Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective simultaneous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of simultaneous are coeval, coincident, contemporaneous, contemporary, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

When can coeval be used instead of simultaneous?

Although the words coeval and simultaneous have much in common, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

In what contexts can coincident take the place of simultaneous?

In some situations, the words coincident and simultaneous are roughly equivalent. However, coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

When is it sensible to use contemporaneous instead of simultaneous?

The words contemporaneous and simultaneous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

Where would contemporary be a reasonable alternative to simultaneous?

The meanings of contemporary and simultaneous largely overlap; however, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When might synchronous be a better fit than simultaneous?

The synonyms synchronous and simultaneous are sometimes interchangeable, but synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

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 simultaneous By processes that no one has fully defined—simultaneous evolution, or international sales of plants and bulbs, or fungal spores carried on the wind—lethal azole-resistant Aspergillus spread worldwide. Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2025 But if the music exists that could satisfactorily burnish over Redwood’s simultaneous thinness and wonkiness as a narrative, its creators haven’t found it yet. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025 By the numbers: Following its IPO, which included the simultaneous acquisition of Complex, BuzzFeed had more than 1,500 employees, per regulatory filings. Sara Fischer, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025 The Global Fund’s exit was compounded by the simultaneous withdrawal of funding from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, an aid donor that had previously supported HIV-prevention efforts among people who inject drugs, such as needle and syringe exchange programs. Gavin Yamey, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for simultaneous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for simultaneous
Adjective
  • He has been sentenced to life in prison in that case as well, and the sentences will run concurrent with each other, the district attorney’s office said in a social media post on Friday, Feb. 7.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The follow-up to Kingdom Come: Deliverance eclipsed its predecessor's launch stats on PC with ease, racking up a concurrent user (CCU) peak of 159,351 during its first day, according to SteamDB.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Well, considering the space telescope will be pretty much mapping everything in the sky from its special dawn-dusk sun synchronous orbit that keeps it cool enough to study infrared emissions — the list is endless.
    Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2025
  • From the synchronous firefly season in the Great Smoky Mountains to the bioluminescent plankton in Vero Beach and starling murmurations in Somerset, travelers are prioritizing destinations that showcase Earth’s most captivating natural spectacles.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With a lockable synchronic-tilt mechanism and special Z-Shape design, the Kaiser 2 can accommodate a weight up to 180kg, quite a bit more than normal mechanisms on office chairs and the back can be reclined to an angle of 160 degrees which can be locked when not in rocking mode.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
  • For his last runway collection, unveiled in September, Michele constructed a parallel universe of side-by-side shows separated by a wall that when lifted revealed twins in identical looks in synchronic stride.
    Colleen Barry, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2022
Adjective
  • The timing of these changes were roughly coincident with clarification of Information Blocking rules and Epic’s introduction of its own competing product.
    Seth Joseph, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
  • Another suggestion is that there were two more or less coincident eruptions, one each in northern and southern hemispheres.
    Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2011

Thesaurus Entries Near simultaneous

Cite this Entry

“Simultaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/simultaneous. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on simultaneous

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