1
as in to stop
slang
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to let go from office, service, or employment
the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the racketeers were rounded up and thrown in the can
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restroom
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste
I excused myself and asked if I could use the can
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in seat
the part of the body upon which someone sits
he fell on the ice and landed on his can
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of can
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Try a can of Cincinnati tap water.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Matsuoka’s speechless wife becomes obsessed with collecting and recycling trash bags filled with plastic cans, crushing them underfoot with a giddy gaze on her face.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
The pastor and his wife, who’d never had children of their own, should take her bottles and the yellow cans of formula, too, and follow the instructions on the label.
—Jeff Ernsthausen, ProPublica, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for can
Noun
The inspector found black residue inside the ice machine, two expired cans of Vienna Sausage and dead cockroaches at a floor drain.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Try a can of Cincinnati tap water.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Matsuoka’s speechless wife becomes obsessed with collecting and recycling trash bags filled with plastic cans, crushing them underfoot with a giddy gaze on her face.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
The pastor and his wife, who’d never had children of their own, should take her bottles and the yellow cans of formula, too, and follow the instructions on the label.
—Jeff Ernsthausen, ProPublica, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for can
Recent Examples of Synonyms for can
Verb
-
Asking the engineers to stop designing a firing squad chamber for the state of Idaho to execute death-row prisoners.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Yankees went a perfect 5-for-5 with ABS challenges in Monday’s 2-1 walk-off loss to the Mariners, but that didn’t stop Boone and company from barking at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In March 2021, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tried to have Swalwell removed from the House Intelligence Committee over his contact with Fang, citing the same interactions now at the center of Patel's file review.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In his community, Bustamante likened it to denouncing Catholicism and removing photos of the pope.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That included removing, repairing and replacing the building’s tin roof tiles — which look like clay — and maintaining the original window casings, matching the stucco and preserving quirks like porthole windows.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In colorful tins, emblazoned with cartoonish tiny fish, the protein-rich food has quietly become a popular healthy meal staple.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This center could break that cycle by getting them the specialized treatment that the jail cannot and does not provide.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Ramsey, 53, has been held in a Dallas County, Iowa, jail since March 17, with bail set at $2 million.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
He's accused of placing cameras in the restrooms of three other parks, with at least 12 different victims.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Many public places don’t have such restrooms.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The 49,000 square-foot complex houses the 513-seat Baker-Baum Concert Hall, rehearsal rooms, offices, state-of-the-art recording facilities and The JAI, an intimate cabaret venue that serves food and drinks.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Using standard attachments and a payload system that allowed for quick swap-outs, it's been possible to make surprisingly large changes to the spyplane, including adding an extra seat for trainers or missions that require a specialist operator.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under the emergency order, the school must immediately cease operations and may not provide massage education services in Texas unless otherwise authorized.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Your intelligence, your generosity, your courage, and your great sensitivity never cease to move me.—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities had since dismissed her lawyers’ requests to send her to a hospital for urgent treatment.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
There is a long history of women's pain being dismissed by doctors, incorrectly categorized as period pain or rooted in psychological distress.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Can.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/can. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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