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 The Eagles’ 110 penalty yards were the most in the Sirianni era. Zach Berman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 Therefore, the organizations that will thrive in this era will be those that reinforce the complementary nature of human expertise and technology, investing equally in both. M. Todd Abner, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 The Chicago Bears' Ben Johnson era may get off to a rocky start. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 Another big boom came in the 1990s, however, with the PC and Mac gaming era growing fast alongside a new set of consoles. Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
Noun
  • The two countries last month agreed to extend the trade truce by another 90 days, to mid-November.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Tesla had been at the impound lot for two days after being found abandoned on a Hollywood street, investigators said.
    Alex Stone, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Gen Z is navigating a partisan divide between men and women larger than any other age range.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Some of my friends were pressured to send inappropriate pictures, contacted by strangers, and exposed to content way beyond our age.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This prompted an intervention from the speaker, who banged his gavel multiple times.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • However, the price, according to many users, has been dishes that aren’t as clean after demonstrably longer cycle times.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The president's announcement came just days after Memphis police reported decreases across every major crime category in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in previous years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The only period in modern times that carbon storage increased there was during a decade-long moratorium following protests and litigation.
    John P. O’Brien, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The dinosaur eggs were laid during the Turonian epoch of the Late Cretaceous, millions of years after a period of global cooling had already begun.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Music always resonated with me and certain songs define epochs from days gone by.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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