Synonym Chooser

How is the word episode distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of episode are circumstance, event, incident, and occurrence. While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

When might circumstance be a better fit than episode?

The words circumstance and episode can be used in similar contexts, but circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

When can event be used instead of episode?

The meanings of event and episode largely overlap; however, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

When could incident be used to replace episode?

The words incident and episode are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

Where would occurrence be a reasonable alternative to episode?

While in some cases nearly identical to episode, occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

Example 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 episode School continued to be a common site for those episodes. Julia Sullivan, SELF, 22 Jan. 2025 Watch Chalamet and his lookalikes in the promo below, and catch the full episode of Saturday Night Live on Jan. 25 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2025 Upcoming Projects After 'Landman' and 'Yellowstone' Success Invincible season three, episode one, lands on Prime Video on February 6, 2025, along with episodes two and three. Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 Luckily, as of the end of the third episode, Scandoval has yet to have a material bearing on the course of the season. Megan McCluskey, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for episode 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for episode
Noun
  • The event comes as an Arctic blast affects more than half the U.S. population.
    Aïda Amer, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025
  • While Musk was busy rubbing elbows with other billionaires at the event — namely, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Bezos' fiancée, Lauren Sanchez — all eyes were on Musk and Zilis' interaction, as the two keep their exact relationship status private.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Searchlight won a bidding war for the project, but just months later, Majors was arrested in New York, and ultimately convicted of assault and harassment following an incident with his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari.
    Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Footage of the altercation quickly made the rounds on social media, as multiple views and angles of the fight were shared — although the footage still was unable to show what initially started the incident.
    Danielle Jennings, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Those are the kinds of things that make (Trenin) a difficult player to play against.
    Joe Smith, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
  • So anyway, rather than wasting an episode or two on Peter Parker trying out makeshift suits or learning to master his goo and whatnot, things pick up three months later with Peter in the earliest stages of super-heroism.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In the wake of the man's death, one coach was in seeming shock about the circumstances of the accident.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The exact circumstances leading to the abandonment of the Roanoke settlement remain unclear.
    Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near episode

Cite this Entry

“Episode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/episode. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on episode

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