CAN Synonyms: 237 Similar and Opposite Words

can 1 of 2

verb

ˈkan

Definition of can

as in to stop

slang to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to remove

to let go from office, service, or employment the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

can

2 of 2

noun

ˈkan

as in tin

a metal container in the shape of a cylinder the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in jail

a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody the racketeers were rounded up and thrown in the can

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outside

as in restroom

a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste I excused myself and asked if I could use the can

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in seat

the part of the body upon which someone sits he fell on the ice and landed on his can

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 can

Noun

Residents are encouraged to use bear-resistant containers with lids latched, store garbage in a garage or shed until collection day, and put cans at the curb the morning of pickup rather than the night before. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 Additional three beer-sample tickets are sold $10 or one full-size can of beer for $10. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 The concierge desk stocks towels, maps, and cans of mineral water each morning for joggers before and after their exercise. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 Securing a soda-can-sized 1080p smart projector equipped with 3-second automatic focus, keystone correction, and Dolby Digital Plus audio for under $360 is an incredible value. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for can

Recent Examples of Synonyms for can

Verb

The aid workers who once regularly visited her village to help pregnant women had stopped coming, after foreign aid cuts by the United States shuttered a program aimed at saving mothers’ and babies’ lives.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
The exposure obviously scares him, but not enough to stop him from filming his next scene, where he’s been tasked with breaking in newcomer Cami Soul.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

Kisunla is designed to help slow the progression of early symptomatic Alzheimer's by targeting the brain to break up and remove amyloid plaques, which are a hallmark of the disease.

— Lauren Pastrana, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Company executives believe bringing fuel directly to fleet yards could remove that barrier.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of remove

Noun

His mother was held in jail overnight before being released Thursday on $75,000 bail, officials said.

— Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Having already served a yearlong jail sentence for an Orinda bank robbery in 2018, Luchin was indicted last year on charges of attempting to rob three San Francisco banks in the same day.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of jail

Noun

One night in September, Green went to use the restroom at the fast-food restaurant.

— Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
One item that has raised some eyebrows is a vow to relocate the hand dryer in the men’s restroom at the Crown & Treaty pub in Uxbridge to a more sensible location.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of restroom

Noun

After losing his seat to redistricting, Jones fell short in his bid for a third term in Congress against Republican Newt Gingrich.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
For now, Paramount isn’t producing the billion-dollar box office smashes that drive millions of butts into theater seats (not to mention robust sales of novelty popcorn buckets).

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of seat

Verb

But by the time of his indictment, Lorch was in failing health and found incompetent to stand trial, and lawsuits against him and the church were dismissed due to statute of limitations issues.

— Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 13 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit was dismissed Monday without prejudice, meaning the case may be filed again.

— Riley Moser, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Browse Nearby Words

campy

can

can't-miss

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Articles Related to can

Cite this Entry

Style

“Can.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/can. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of can

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

‘Cannot’ vs. ‘Can Not’: Is...

Kicking It with 'Kick the Can Down the...

'Can' vs. 'May'

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