Synonym Chooser

How does the noun election contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of election are alternative, choice, option, preference, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

When is it sensible to use alternative instead of election?

While the synonyms alternative and election are close in meaning, alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

When might choice be a better fit than election?

While in some cases nearly identical to election, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

When would option be a good substitute for election?

The meanings of option and election largely overlap; however, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When is preference a more appropriate choice than election?

In some situations, the words preference and election are roughly equivalent. However, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

When could selection be used to replace election?

The words selection and election can be used in similar contexts, but selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

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 election While Trump won the election on November 5, his victory was formalized on Tuesday as presidential electors gathered across the country as part of the constitutional process to officially elect a president known as the Electoral College. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024 At the same time, Canada’s three opposition parties are demanding that Trudeau call new elections. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024 The Wisconsin partisan primary election was held on Tuesday. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024 The suit -- which names the newspaper's parent company, Gannett; its former pollster J. Ann Selzer; and her polling firm -- centers on a Selzer poll released three days before the presidential election that showed Trump trailing Vice President Kamala Harris. Elahe Izadi, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for election 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for election
Noun
  • The narrow definition of who the competition was meant merging two competitors in a market posed a bigger risk to consumers of less choice and potentially higher prices.
    Alexander Coolidge, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Their conversation points to the poem’s second radical choice: God and the Son are neither identical nor coexistent.
    Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • How to Enable a VPN Kill Switch The kill switch option in Proton VPN.
    David Nield, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Outlet timers are a very popular option this time of year.
    Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Since debuting in 2019, the series has received 29 Emmy nominations including outstanding comedy series and won in 2022 in the fantasy/sci-fi costumes category.
    Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Kushner's, Barrack's and McMahon's nominations all require confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
    Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • All 300 assembly members cast their votes for the impeachment bill on Saturday as the bill passed with a total of 204 votes for impeachment, 85 against, 3 abstentions and 8 invalid votes.
    Joohee Cho, ABC News, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Additionally, Hunter was named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, receiving 26 out of 43 votes from AP Top 25 voters.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The same poll had 5 in 10 adults disapprove of the decision, with 2 in 10 neither approving or disapproving and the remainder not knowing enough to give a proper response.
    Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024
  • This decision would deprive the fossil-fuel economy of one source of backing, and eliminate one of the only remaining ways that the U.S. government supports international oil-and-gas development.
    Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • With that announcement, my memory raced back unhappily to the bad old days of J. Edgar Hoover — except in dramatic ways, Patel looks worse.
    Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec. 2024
  • For family offices, these changes present both an investment opportunity and new ways of working and living.
    Francois Botha, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The Sun Devils came into the weekend ranked No. 15 by the selection committee.
    The Athletic College Football, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024
  • New York Rangers The New York Rangers have 5 total selections to the 4 Nations Face-Off including an NHL-high 3 selections to Team USA.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near election

Cite this Entry

“Election.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/election. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on election

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