CONTEMPORARY Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'contemporary' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporary are coeval , coincident , contemporaneous , simultaneous , and synchronous . While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them. // Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

Q: When is 'coeval' a more appropriate choice than 'contemporary'?

In some situations, the words coeval and contemporary are roughly equivalent. However, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons. // two stars thought to be coeval

Q: When could 'coincident' be used to replace 'contemporary'?

The words coincident and contemporary can be used in similar contexts, but coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship. // the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

Q: In what contexts can 'contemporaneous' take the place of 'contemporary'?

While the synonyms contemporaneous and contemporary are close in meaning, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people. // contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

Q: When is it sensible to use 'simultaneous' instead of 'contemporary'?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporary largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time. // the two shots were simultaneous

Q: Where would 'synchronous' be a reasonable alternative to 'contemporary'?

The synonyms synchronous and contemporary are sometimes interchangeable, but synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals. // synchronous timepieces

contemporary 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē

Definition of contemporary

as in concurrent

existing or occurring at the same period of time the absurd notion that early cave dwellers were contemporary with the dinosaurs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in modern

being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles a magazine devoted to contemporary fashions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

contemporary

2 of 2

noun

as in companion

a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were exact contemporaries, actually being born on the same day in 1809

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contemporary differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporary are coeval, coincident, contemporaneous, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When is coeval a more appropriate choice than contemporary?

In some situations, the words coeval and contemporary are roughly equivalent. However, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

When could coincident be used to replace contemporary?

The words coincident and contemporary can be used in similar contexts, but coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

In what contexts can contemporaneous take the place of contemporary?

While the synonyms contemporaneous and contemporary are close in meaning, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is it sensible to use simultaneous instead of contemporary?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporary largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

Where would synchronous be a reasonable alternative to contemporary?

The synonyms synchronous and contemporary are sometimes interchangeable, but synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

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 contemporary

Adjective

Standing at just over eight inches, the curiously contemporary-looking object bears the reign mark of the Qianlong Emperor. — Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Here, the pink shirt is paired with a pair of white balloon pants—the contemporary, trendy alternative to baggy styles. — Emma Bocchi, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Bonanno, one of its original members, is said to have eschewed the pomp and public appearances of his contemporaries and remained a low-profile figure into the 1950s. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 Unlike his contemporaries Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, Lower East Side artist Landès Lewitin has been largely forgotten—except among the art cognoscenti. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contemporary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporary

Adjective

The beta saw an all-time peak of 115,145 concurrent players on the first day.

— Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
York was found guilty, according to court documents, and was sentenced to concurrent one-day jail sentences for each misdemeanor.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of concurrent

Adjective

Most people go to campgrounds to escape the plagues of modern technology, so try to keep the decibels to a minimum.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
During the Renaissance, Italians refined fencing into its modern form, and soon fencing schools began popping up all over Europe.

— Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

So in regard to the team’s new principal owners, a wait-and-see outlook is the only outlook that makes sense.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
The production will mark the inaugural show at the Bridge Theatre, a 900-seat venue on the Thames near Tower Bridge, under its new ownership by Trafalgar Entertainment.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of new

Noun

The screech of guitar feedback echoed from a makeshift stage outside, where a punk-rock band had just launched into their set, a fitting accompaniment to the bar’s kaleidoscopic selection of beer.

— Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
The starchy goodness is the best possible accompaniment to the moist, meaty patties CJ’s serves up.

— Katie Akin, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of accompaniment

Adjective

North Carolina is also home to synchronous fireflies, another bioluminescent species that lights up on land.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026
Satellites operating in sun-synchronous orbit receive steady solar energy, providing a consistent power source without depending on Earth’s electrical grid.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of synchronous

Noun

There are lots of brands that have worked to give us beautiful soft mattes that glide onto lids and don’t feel patchy or heavy like their previous counterparts.

— Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
Their counterparts, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have not said anything to mark six months of the war.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of counterpart

Browse Nearby Words

contemporaries

contemporary

contemporize

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contemporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporary. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of contemporary

adjective

noun

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'Cotemporary': The Archaic...

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Synonyms of contemporary

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to contemporary

'Cotemporary': The Archaic...

Cite this Entry

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