1
2
3
4
5
6
7
as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily don't be so quick to characterize people who have trouble with computers as simple

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective simple contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of simple are easy, effortless, facile, light, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

When could easy be used to replace simple?

The meanings of easy and simple largely overlap; however, easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

In what contexts can effortless take the place of simple?

While the synonyms effortless and simple are close in meaning, effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

How are the words facile and easy related as synonyms of simple?

Facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

When is light a more appropriate choice than simple?

Although the words light and simple have much in common, light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

When is it sensible to use smooth instead of simple?

The synonyms smooth and simple are sometimes interchangeable, but smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

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 simple On a traditional cold-brew maker, the process is remarkably simple: Grind beans coarsely, put them in water, leave the mixture out on the counter or in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours, and wait. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 30 Apr. 2025 Our study also offers a simple method to help forecast wage trends, which contractors can use to estimate future labor costs. Bahaa Chammout, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025 Her stylish look is a prime example that, sometimes, a simple and sleek coat is enough for your going-out look. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025 The simplest way, Studholme suggests, is to use one group of neutrals or a tone on tone graduation of the same color, such as Pigeon, Blue Gray, Muzzle and Cromarty from Farrow & Ball, for example. Ariel Okin, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for simple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for simple
Adjective
  • There are many causes for hair loss—pregnancy, medication, stress, tight styling, or just plain genetics, to name a few.
    Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025
  • Our Review Only recent Macs with either M4 Pro or M4 Max CPUs support Thunderbolt 5; Macs with plain M4 chips will not.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Although the London Marathon’s entry rules are currently unaffected, British conservative media and tabloid newspapers are already putting pressure on the event to change its policies.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 25 Apr. 2025
  • Will Brandy be stuck in that alt-reality forever or emerge unscathed and unaffected?
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Blackberry Smoke is just a kick-ass band that’s been doing it the right way, the honest way, the hard way, the pure way, for a very long time.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Other video motifs include UFOs, idyllic green pastures, and vigorous exhortations to drink only the purest, rawest milk.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The four categories are all color-coded to show their difficulty, with yellow being the easiest then green, blue and purple.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Although small businesses are the easiest to target, this issue also affects the marketing industry as a whole.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Ravi asks, an astoundingly naive question for a show like 9-1-1.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • In the February 1984 issue: Latin America: A media stereotype Over time, Vargas Llosa realized that this kind of reflexive leftism was naive.
    Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This situation would be a comedy of errors if not for its ending in tragedy: Andy is ignorant of Sherry’s affections, Sherry has no notion of Crawford’s intentions, and Crawford could not care less about either of them.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Some sellers, who may only own a home for a few years, may be ignorant of its past.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Making stupid internet fodder has never been easier than now, with the prevalence of AI image generators making everything from deepfakes to memes.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Much like the stupid prions wreaking havoc in his brain.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This alignment can ensure that business areas of greater risk receive the proper share of security funds, rather than sufficing the bare minimum required.
    Siranjeevi Dheenadhayalan, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The formula’s lightweight feel layers well with or without lip products—wear on bare lips or atop lipstick.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Simple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/simple. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on simple

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!