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material

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adjective

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word material different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of material are applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, pertinent, and relevant. While all these words mean "relating to or bearing upon the matter in hand," material implies so close a relationship that it cannot be dispensed with without serious alteration of the case.

facts material to the investigation

When is it sensible to use applicable instead of material?

The synonyms applicable and material are sometimes interchangeable, but applicable suggests the fitness of bringing a general rule or principle to bear upon a particular case.

the rule is not applicable in this case

When might apposite be a better fit than material?

In some situations, the words apposite and material are roughly equivalent. However, apposite suggests a felicitous relevance.

add an apposite quotation to the definition

When is apropos a more appropriate choice than material?

Although the words apropos and material have much in common, apropos suggests being both relevant and opportune.

the quip was apropos

When could germane be used to replace material?

While in some cases nearly identical to material, germane may additionally imply a fitness for or appropriateness to the situation or occasion.

a point not germane to the discussion

When can pertinent be used instead of material?

The words pertinent and material can be used in similar contexts, but pertinent stresses a clear and decisive relevance.

a pertinent observation

Where would relevant be a reasonable alternative to material?

The meanings of relevant and material largely overlap; however, relevant implies a traceable, significant, logical connection.

found material relevant to her case

Example 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 material
Noun
Every dresser, table, and chair doesn’t need to be the exact same material and finish. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025 Given that everyone was into denim at the time, Belew wanted to recreate that look using this edgier material. Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Fires are not a material risk, and neither are the crowds fleeing them. Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025 The film makes more than a token effort to explore the material and psychological realities of life under fascist rule, and the transformation of a charming agrarian utopia into an austere military dictatorship. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for material
Recent Examples of Synonyms for material
Noun
  • The potential for showers and thunderstorms in this region is expected to continue through the afternoon, with the threat ending Friday evening, forecasts show.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Healthcare providers consider several factors, including your medical history, cost and insurance coverage, and the potential for side effects or drug interactions.
    Karen Berger, PharmD, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In 2022, a fisherman detected an unusual object in the murky water while using sonar equipment and notified the Elgin Fire Department.
    Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The top sub-sectors were office supplies, pharmaceuticals, and soft drinks, while power generation equipment, energy equipment, and catering/tourism were the worst.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • South Carolina went undefeated during a dominant championship run last year that featured a physical roster no opponent could match up with.
    Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Cats require mental and physical stimulation, which is where cat trees come in.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Perhaps more important, not everything the administration has done so far has actually streamlined the process for oil companies to invest and drill.
    Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Bill Murray got emotional talking about his old pal Bruce Willis, who has been battling frontal temporal dementia and aphasia for the past several years.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
  • There are several astronomical functions, but the most entertaining one is the temporal tracking of celestial observations.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This unusual and alarming development elicited a very strange reaction, though, from relevant scholars in such countries as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Sweden, which seemed to think the forcible relocation was a positive step forward.
    Ray Cavanaugh, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • McCutchen said the curriculum taught included other major civil rights events and focused on why the topic is relevant to students today.
    Campbell Roper, Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Delaney was booked into the Marina del Rey Sheriff's Station at 10:15 a.m. and charged with assault, likely to produce gross bodily injury.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Burnett, then 21, of Hammond got ten years in prison in October after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 3 felony.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Whalers also brought spermaceti, a waxy substance that comes from a sperm whale’s head and is used to produce candles and lubricants for precision machinery like watches and clocks.
    Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
  • But once Mulaney talked his wife Olivia Munn into giving him the cash because he’s not allowed to have more than $300 in cash due to his past issues with substance abuse, the manager then requested $100,000 and finally the Everybody’s Live crew began to notice the red flags.
    Angel Diaz, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Material.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/material. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

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