CONTEMPORARY Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'contemporary' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporary are coeval , coincident , contemporaneous , simultaneous , and synchronous . While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them. // Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

Q: When is 'coeval' a more appropriate choice than 'contemporary'?

In some situations, the words coeval and contemporary are roughly equivalent. However, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons. // two stars thought to be coeval

Q: When could 'coincident' be used to replace 'contemporary'?

The words coincident and contemporary can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Q: In what contexts can 'contemporaneous' take the place of 'contemporary'?

While the synonyms contemporaneous and contemporary are close in meaning, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people. // contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

Q: When is it sensible to use 'simultaneous' instead of 'contemporary'?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporary largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time. // the two shots were simultaneous

Q: Where would 'synchronous' be a reasonable alternative to 'contemporary'?

The synonyms synchronous and contemporary are sometimes interchangeable, but synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals. // synchronous timepieces

contemporary 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē

Definition of contemporary next

as in concurrent

existing or occurring at the same period of time the absurd notion that early cave dwellers were contemporary with the dinosaurs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in modern

being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles a magazine devoted to contemporary fashions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

contemporary

2 of 2

noun

as in companion

a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were exact contemporaries, actually being born on the same day in 1809

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contemporary differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporary are coeval, coincident, contemporaneous, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When is coeval a more appropriate choice than contemporary?

In some situations, the words coeval and contemporary are roughly equivalent. However, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

When could coincident be used to replace contemporary?

The words coincident and contemporary can be used in similar contexts, but 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

In what contexts can contemporaneous take the place of contemporary?

While the synonyms contemporaneous and contemporary are close in meaning, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is it sensible to use simultaneous instead of contemporary?

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

the two shots were simultaneous

Where would synchronous be a reasonable alternative to contemporary?

The synonyms synchronous and contemporary are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 contemporary

Adjective

The 13th edition welcomed a global roster of galleries such as Paris’ Galerie Anne Jacquemin Sablon and Ukrainian modern and contemporary furniture, lighting and decor gallery Victoria Yakusha Gallery, alongside returning participants like Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts and Milan’s Nilufar. —

Sofia Celeste, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024 Sotheby’s recorded a much lower yield for Impressionist, modern and contemporary art at its November marquee sales in New York ($533.1 million) compared to 2023 ($1.2 billion). —

Karen K. Ho For Artnews, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

Advertisement Instead of searching the transfer market for one of Messi’s contemporaries, the Galaxy targeted a couple of youthful wingers in 26-year-old Joseph Paintsil of Ghana and 23-year-old Gabriel Pec of Brazil. —

Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024 Built in 1986, this California contemporary at 6 Cary Lane, unit 6, capitalizes on the site’s natural beauty adorned by an ample number of permanent greenways in the development’s overall 90 acres. —

Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 1 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contemporary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporary

Adjective

The website adds that the service will still include 100+ channels, unlimited DVR storage to record shows and movies, up to 6 accounts per household, and 3 concurrent streams.

Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2024
That's about average, but BritBox notably supports five concurrent streams per account.

PCMAG, PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024