COMMON Synonyms: 468 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'common' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common are familiar , ordinary , plain , popular , and vulgar . While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness. // a common error // lacked common honesty // common manners

Q: When would 'familiar' be a good substitute for 'common'?

The words familiar and common are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized. // a familiar melody

Q: In what contexts can 'ordinary' take the place of 'common'?

The meanings of ordinary and common largely overlap; however, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things. // an ordinary pleasant summer day // a very ordinary sort of man

Q: When is 'plain' a more appropriate choice than 'common'?

While in some cases nearly identical to common , plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity. // plain hard-working people

Q: When might 'popular' be a better fit than 'common'?

Although the words popular and common have much in common, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups. // a writer of popular romances

Q: How do 'vulgar' and 'popular' relate to one another, in the sense of 'common'?

Vulgar , otherwise similar to popular , is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness). // souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

common

adjective

ˈkä-mən

Definition of common next

as in ubiquitous

often observed or encountered horse ranches are a common sight in that part of the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in normal

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events just a common house cat but an extraordinary friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in general

belonging or relating to the whole facts of common knowledge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in low

belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank a man of wealth and privilege who mingled without pretense with the common folk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in prevailing

held by or applicable to a majority of the people a politician who works not for the special interests but for the common good

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in collective

used or done by a number of people as a group used a common bathroom while at the campground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ordinary

of average to below average quality has a common singing voice that's good enough for performing at those venues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in poor

of low quality furniture of common workmanship that did not justify the high prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vulgar

lacking in refinement or good taste embarrassed by the common manners of his new in-laws

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective common contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common are familiar, ordinary, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error

lacked common honesty

common manners

When would familiar be a good substitute for common?

The words familiar and common are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

In what contexts can ordinary take the place of common?

The meanings of ordinary and common largely overlap; however, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day

a very ordinary sort of man

When is plain a more appropriate choice than common?

While in some cases nearly identical to common, plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

When might popular be a better fit than common?

Although the words popular and common have much in common, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of common?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

Examples 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 common That situation is common across the United States, where many of the most deadly, polluting, and generally awful urban streets are overseen by state departments of transportation (DOTs). —

David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024 Modes As is common among pro- and near-pro-level photo workflow apps, PhotoDirector uses modes. —

PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 Leafly does not anticipate cash dividend payments to common stockholders in the near future. —

Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024 In a common method, participants reflect on their own death, while control groups consider less threatening topics, like dental pain. —

Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for common

Recent Examples of Synonyms for common

Adjective

In a perfect world, there would be some logic to getting rid of the equal-time rule, and, quite frankly, the same FCC regulations that force networks to censor four-letter words that are ubiquitous on virtually every other form of media.

Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Near ubiquitous, however, is consternation about the election process as a whole, with Pennsylvania being Ground Zero for an unyielding torrent of partisan propaganda.

David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024