accessory 1 of 2

noun

ik-ˈse-sə-rē How to pronounce accessory (audio)
variants also accessary
Definition of accessorynext
1
as in option
something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment bought a new car with lots of high-tech accessories

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accomplice
one associated with another in wrongdoing two accessories, the driver of the getaway car and the dishonest bank teller, were charged in the robbery case

Synonyms & Similar Words

accessory

2 of 2

adjective

as in auxiliary
available to supply something extra when needed most phone services offer accessory features such as call-waiting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 accessory
Noun
Retail gross margin was down moderately in ladies' accessories and lingerie. — John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2026 The Jonas Brothers returned for the new Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock 3, sans one Y2K accessory. — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Malek Daniels, 20, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to accessory voluntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and accessory second-degree assault for his role and was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison. — Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026 The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will publish zoning models — covering everything from parking to accessory dwelling units to triplexes — for cities to adopt, though they’re not required to. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accessory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accessory
  1. option
  2. accomplice
  3. auxiliary
  4. appliance
  5. additional
  6. adapter
  7. peripheral
  8. supplementary
Noun
  • The hotel also has a helicopter pad, so those interested in exploring the other islands by air rather than by boat have that option, too.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Iraola has only Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha, and Victor Munoz as realistic forward options, with Lewis Koumas and Federico Chiesa offering the next layer of support.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of option
Noun
  • Howell fled the scene in a gray sedan driven by an accomplice, police said.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The surviving suspect from an abduction in Chino Hills last week that ended with deputies killing his accomplice, moments after the victim had been executed, is being charged with murder, San Bernardino County prosecutors announced Monday.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of accomplice
Adjective
  • The project will add domestic capacity for assembling, integrating, and testing Wärtsilä engines used for ship propulsion and auxiliary power.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The center is run by the university’s auxiliary organizations Associated Students and The University Union along with the California Division of Boating and Waterways and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of auxiliary
Noun
  • The kitchen is appointed with white shaker cabinets, stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops.
    — Kim Quillen, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Taking on new debt, like financing a car, furniture or appliances, can shift your DTI at the wrong time.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of appliance
Adjective
  • Wald said part of her review will focus on security at the establishment and whether additional measures could have prevented the violence.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • New York state requires riders of all forms of e-bikes to be at least 16, and New York City imposes additional restrictions, including a 15 mph (24 kph) speed limit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of additional
Noun
  • Automatic portable washers connect to a sink faucet with a quick-connect adapter and run a full wash cycle on their own.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026
  • That makes packing a separate charging brick or adapter for every device especially unnecessary.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of adapter
Adjective
  • Vanderbosch recommends picking a patch of sky to focus on until a quick, bright streak passes by — even in your peripheral vision — and to avoid looking at your phone.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Even in the third-person narration of Call of the Wild the dramatis personae of eccentric, infighting dogs overshadows the flat and peripheral human characters until Thornton appears.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of peripheral
Adjective
  • In 2024, Purja became the fastest person to summit all 14 of the peaks without supplementary oxygen.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • Coverage is provided by Employees’ Health Insurance and National Health Insurance schemes; private insurance only plays a supplementary role.
    — Runchana Pongsaparn, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Definition of supplementary

Browse Nearby Words

accessorizing
accessory
accident
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accessory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accessory. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on accessory

Nglish: Translation of accessory for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about accessory

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All