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
Derived 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.
When I asked him how he approaches the stewardship of two houses synonymous with their founders’ creative visions, he offered a personally chilling analogy.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
He engages in more question-begging by treating “qualified” as synonymous with having a TV news background.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
To most, though, Earth, Wind & Fire is synonymous with “September” memes, maximalist performance and magic onstage and in their music.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
The service became synonymous with something Mumbai prided itself on, that beneath the noise and the rush, some things still worked with unshakeable precision.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Horatio Alger’s books have made his name synonymous with rags-to-riches success, but that was not his personal story.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
