synonymous

adjective

syn·​on·​y·​mous sə-ˈnä-nə-məs How to pronounce synonymous (audio)
1
: having the character of a synonym
also : alike in meaning or significance
2
: having the same connotations, implications, or reference
to runners, Boston is synonymous with marathonRunners World
synonymously adverb

Examples of synonymous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Try These Two Easy Ways Flavor Gone are the days when instant was synonymous with weak coffee, bitter and astringent, and mainly made with Robusta beans instead of the preferred arabica. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025 In some ways, much of modern Japanese comedy could be synonymous with Yoshimoto Kogyo. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 But, for Williams, the scenes captured within a back-room producer community are synonymous with those of everyday life. Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025 Cozy Caves Are the Bigger, Better Book Nooks—Here's How to Make Your Own 01 of 10 Romance: Warm, Cozy, and Inviting Rosy hues, scalloped edges, and floral patterns are synonymous with romance books because of the warm, fluttery feeling a good love story leaves the reader with. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for synonymous

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synonymous was in 1610

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Cite this Entry

“Synonymous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synonymous. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

synonymous

adjective
syn·​on·​y·​mous sə-ˈnän-ə-məs How to pronounce synonymous (audio)
1
: alike in meaning
2
: suggesting the same thing
a brand name that is synonymous with quality
synonymously adverb
Etymology

from Latin synonymus "synonymous," from Greek synōnymos, literally, "having the same name," from syn- "together, along with" and onyma, onoma "name" — related to anonymous, symposium, synagogue, synchronous

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