Synonym Chooser

How does the verb perform contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of perform are accomplish, achieve, discharge, effect, execute, and fulfill. While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

When would accomplish be a good substitute for perform?

The meanings of accomplish and perform largely overlap; however, accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

How are the words achieve and accomplish related as synonyms of perform?

Achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

Where would discharge be a reasonable alternative to perform?

The words discharge and perform are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

How do effect and achieve relate to one another, in the sense of perform?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

When might execute be a better fit than perform?

The synonyms execute and perform are sometimes interchangeable, but execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

In what contexts can fulfill take the place of perform?

Although the words fulfill and perform have much in common, fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

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 perform Rod Wave Rod Wave will perform at the American Airlines Center in Dallas as part of his Last Lap tour on Saturday, January 18. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025 Vistra has more than tripled in value to become the second best performing stock in the S & P 500 this year, outpacing chip powerhouse Nvidia and trailing only Palantir Technologies . Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024 Then, on a daily basis, a batch analysis is performed, the results being delivered to in-house cyber security experts to review. Davey Winder, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 At about midnight each weekday, a group of five men and women arrives at the darkened restaurant doors of Sobre Masa in Brooklyn and performs a sacred art of transformation. Kristen V. Brown, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for perform 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perform
Verb
  • Over the course of two decades, Rita executed 169 transfers, averaging $2.5 million per year.
    Sean Keane, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025
  • It has been widely reported that the President-elect plans to execute as many as 100 executive orders on a wide variety of issues during his first day in office next Monday.
    David Blackmon, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • No one wants to speak to a robot, Morgan instructs, so don't act like one.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Second, canyons and valleys can act as funnels for the Santa Ana winds.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After launching with a preview performance in Pittsburgh on March 12, the upcoming North American tour will officially open March 15 in Austin, where the show plays in partnership with South by Southwest.
    Gordon Cox, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Osaka was better than Garcia, who was playing her first match after a three-month mental health break.
    Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Zelenskyy and his top officials have been working hard to build ties with the incoming administration and convince the president-elect of the need to support Ukraine and contain Russia.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Once upon a time, Kansas City Star photographers assigned to work a Chiefs game would focus entirely on what happened on the field.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Campbell’s Lions are favored by 9.5 points and experience could serve Goff and his teammates well.
    Mike Jones, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • If the first court convicts him and issues a prison term, Yoon would serve that sentence as the case possibly moves up to the Seoul High Court and Supreme Court.
    Kim Tong-Hyung, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As the Tony winner took her final bow, the Greatest Showman star was there to capture it all — alongside acting legend Carol Burnett, who portrayed Foster's character in the original production of the show.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Actor, writer, director Keller Fornes, who portrayed Griffin in Great American Family‘s County Rescue series, has died.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • When Van Hoogstraten needed to step back from operating the forum in 2014, France agreed to acquire it, still insisting on sustaining the autonomy for which it was founded.
    Lilian Raji, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • This campaign, though, has seen Bellingham operating in a deeper role.
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • An unsung gang of heroes made up of database administrations, system administrators (aka sysadmins), site reliability engineers and every other subgenre of operations all the way through to penetration testers and other security professionals, the operations function matters.
    Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
  • TikTok would stop functioning if the firm's U.S.-based hosting companies stopped providing services, experts said.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near perform

Cite this Entry

“Perform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perform. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on perform

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!