ENTER Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'enter' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate , pierce , and probe . While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in. // entered the city in triumph

Q: Where would 'penetrate' be a reasonable alternative to 'enter'?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance. // the enemy penetrated the fortress

Q: When can 'pierce' be used instead of 'enter'?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument. // pierced the boil with a lancet

Q: When is it sensible to use 'probe' instead of 'enter'?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge. // probed the depths of the sea

enter

verb

ˈen-tər

Definition of enter next

as in to penetrate

to go or come in or into the hikers entered the cave with considerable caution

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Relevance

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as in to join

to become a member of patriotic young men and women entering the armed services debutantes entering society

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as in to record

to put (someone or something) on a list new voters fill out a form and elections officials enter their names into the database

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delete

as in to receive

to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the club enters only five new members a year

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate, pierce, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

Where would penetrate be a reasonable alternative to enter?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When can pierce be used instead of enter?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When is it sensible to use probe instead of enter?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of enter Soon, Milwaukee could be down to one In non-election news, the Walker's Point Youth & Family Center is unfortunately entering its final days of operation. —

Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024 While a fair number of New Yorkers may be at home alone tonight, watching prestige-TV reruns and trying to enter a fugue state, plenty of us plan to lean into the misery (or joy) of watching the election results in numbers. —

Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024 McBride will enter Congress on the heels of an election year in which Republicans, including Trump, spent more than $200 million on network television ads targeting trans people, according to data shared with NBC News on Tuesday by AdImpact, an analytics firm that tracks political ad spending. —

Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024 Under a 20-year repayment plan, money would enter the system sooner. —

Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for enter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enter

Verb

When transiting this Mutable sign, the messenger planet is ready to come up for air (especially after penetrating through the surface in Scorpio) and jump headfirst into a world of new ideas and boundless possibilities.

Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Another theory posits that the wiggling of Alfvén waves, oscillations in the Sun’s magnetic field that penetrate into the corona and turn back on themselves, can also inject energy into the solar wind.

ByHannah Richter, science.org, 31 Oct. 2024