synonymous
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(often foll by with) being a synonym (of)
-
closely associated (with) or suggestive (of)
his name was synonymous with greed
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of synonymous
First recorded in 1600–10; from Medieval Latin synōnymus, from Greek synṓnymos, equivalent to syn- prefix + -ōnym- “name, word” + -os adjective suffix; see syn-, -onym, -ous
Explanation
If two words are synonymous, they mean the same thing. You tried to convince her that "love" and "chocolate" were not synonymous, but it was no use. In addition to describing words with the same or similar meanings, you can use the adjective synonymous to describe things that are similar in a more figurative way. Summer is synonymous with picnics, playing outside, and days at the beach. Summer is also synonymous with ants, skinned knees, and sunburn!
Vocabulary lists containing synonymous
100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It didn’t feel glamorous, and as I continue my Hollywood journey I no longer see success and fame as synonymous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Systems producing high-yield fusion expose weapons parts to intense heat, radiation and pressure nearly synonymous with a nuclear blast—hotter than the sun at more than 100 million degrees Celsius—without any explosions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The first word is “control”: Egg freezing has become culturally synonymous with controlling fertility and offering women agency.
From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026
The 30-year-old has 108 goals in 278 games for Villa after joining from Brentford for a then-record £28m and has been synonymous with Villa's rise of the past six years.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
I take ‘laws of nature’ and ‘scientific laws’ to be synonymous, although I am aware that some philosophers want to use these as labels to distinguish two different types of law.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
