Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contemporaneous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporaneous are coeval, coincident, contemporary, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is coeval a more appropriate choice than contemporaneous?

While in some cases nearly identical to contemporaneous, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

When can coincident be used instead of contemporaneous?

In some situations, the words coincident and contemporaneous 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

Where would contemporary be a reasonable alternative to contemporaneous?

Although the words contemporary and contemporaneous have much in common, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When is it sensible to use simultaneous instead of contemporaneous?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporaneous largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

When would synchronous be a good substitute for contemporaneous?

The words synchronous and contemporaneous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

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 contemporaneous Part of Wagner’s research involved reading Adams’ autobiography, among many other contemporaneous historic sources. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024 Earlier this year, representatives for Williams revealed she had been diagnosed with aphasia and contemporaneous dementia. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024 This process could produce gargantuan black holes contemporaneous with galaxies like JADES-GS-z14-0. Rebecca Boyle, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024 That said, what’s always elevated the character above the glib killing machines of contemporaneous Hollywood thrill rides is the aching humanity Weaver brought to the role. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contemporaneous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporaneous
Adjective
  • BritBox outclasses them all with support for five concurrent streams.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Both offer support to people experiencing street homelessness and concurrent behavioral health challenges.
    Jody Rudin, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Congaree National Park See synchronous fireflies put on a limited-time performance Kingville, South Carolina Each spring, this park’s resident fireflies create a magnificent display deep in its dense hardwood forest.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Late March-early April: Enter the lottery for a ticket to visit nearby Congaree National Park in South Carolina during its immensely popular synchronous fireflies viewing event in May-June.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 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
Adjective
  • But the story of loneliness in contemporary America isn’t so straightforward.
    Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Today, that spiritual vernacular endures in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Serie Architects have completed its own contemporary homage: the new Raj Sabhagruh, centerpiece of the nearly 250-acre Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram.
    Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • For instance, Disney+'s only plan allows for four simultaneous streams, which matches Netflix's highest tier.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The price of the Premium tier, with four simultaneous streams, will be $24.99 per month, up $2.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • That could have been coincidental, but there’s value in an all-time great just being there.
    Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The fact that these formats rely on the Internet is not coincidental.
    Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near contemporaneous

Cite this Entry

“Contemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporaneous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on contemporaneous

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