as in day
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the introduction of the mass production of cars on an assembly line ushered in the era of the automobile

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun era differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of era are age, epoch, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

When might age be a better fit than era?

While in some cases nearly identical to era, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Where would epoch be a reasonable alternative to era?

While the synonyms epoch and era are close in meaning, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

When would period be a good substitute for era?

In some situations, the words period and era are roughly equivalent. However, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

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 era If this is indeed the end of Karen’s era, what does the future hold for RHOP? Shelby Stewart, Essence, 26 Mar. 2025 Currently given the working title Scandals, the show will be an adaptation of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which reimagined the promiscuous world of the classic French novel Dangerous Liaisons within the context of Korea’s Joseon era. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025 While morning rooms were a product of the Victorian era, their purpose is just as relevant today. Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025 In an era where trust is everything, businesses that don’t proactively strengthen their biometric defenses risk losing not just money but their very legitimacy. Khurram Akhtar, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
Noun
  • Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The new board will be responsible for the day to day management of Apex and will be key in setting the company’s agenda for future and long term growth.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Things are going to happen, but in this remarkable age of medical advances many can be treated and minimized.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2025
  • By 1949, the average age of the attendees was 100.5; this reunion may have been the last Civil War reunion in Arkansas.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Coachella announced the times via social media posts; see the full lineups for both weekends on the festival’s Instagram post, below.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The total this time might be towards the higher end of that historic variance, with so many teams still involved in the race.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The mobile counters displaying the time and date gravitate around the dial over a period of 59 days, gradually revealing the moon discs.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Dividends make up a larger portion of total returns during periods of slow growth, said Morgan Stanley strategist Todd Castagno.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • One possibility is that the light may have come from the earliest generation of stars formed in the universe, hotter and more luminous than stars formed in later epochs.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The ancient oceans of the Eocene epoch teemed with lifeforms that today seem almost otherworldly.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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