CONTIGUOUS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'contiguous' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of contiguous are adjacent , adjoining , and juxtaposed . While all these words mean "being in close proximity," contiguous implies having contact on all or most of one side. // offices in all 48 contiguous states

Q: When might 'adjacent' be a better fit than 'contiguous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to contiguous , adjacent may or may not imply contact but always implies absence of anything of the same kind in between. // a house with an adjacent garage

Q: When can 'adjoining' be used instead of 'contiguous'?

While the synonyms adjoining and contiguous are close in meaning, adjoining definitely implies meeting and touching at some point or line. // had adjoining rooms at the hotel

Q: When would 'juxtaposed' be a good substitute for 'contiguous'?

The words juxtaposed and contiguous can be used in similar contexts, but juxtaposed means placed side by side especially so as to permit comparison and contrast. // a skyscraper juxtaposed to a church

contiguous

adjective

kən-ˈti-gyə-wəs

Definition of contiguous

as in adjacent

having a border in common Connecticut and Massachusetts are contiguous states

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How is the word contiguous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of contiguous are adjacent, adjoining, and juxtaposed. While all these words mean "being in close proximity," contiguous implies having contact on all or most of one side.

offices in all 48 contiguous states

When might adjacent be a better fit than contiguous?

While in some cases nearly identical to contiguous, adjacent may or may not imply contact but always implies absence of anything of the same kind in between.

a house with an adjacent garage

When can adjoining be used instead of contiguous?

While the synonyms adjoining and contiguous are close in meaning, adjoining definitely implies meeting and touching at some point or line.

had adjoining rooms at the hotel

When would juxtaposed be a good substitute for contiguous?

The words juxtaposed and contiguous can be used in similar contexts, but juxtaposed means placed side by side especially so as to permit comparison and contrast.

a skyscraper juxtaposed to a church

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 contiguous In between hikes, take some time to check out what the rest of the peninsula has to offer, like the chance to stand on the Northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States at Cape Flattery. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026 This would create partition on the patriots’ terms, not Britain’s, as 13 contiguous colonies seceded from the rump of the British Empire in North America. — David Armitage, Washington Post, 26 June 2026 The park is almost completely surrounded by Bureau of Land Management property, and the public land is all that separates the park from the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness — the largest wilderness area in the contiguous United States. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 June 2026 Both the cellular and Wi-Fi industries consider this contiguous block, which covers frequencies from 5,925 to 7,125 megahertz, critical. — Stephen Cousins, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for contiguous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contiguous

Adjective

Private car service, concierge guidance, event spaces, and pool access (at the adjacent Sheraton) round out the amenities.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
At the photo shoot, her mother, Tanja Rosner, sits in the adjacent room with McRae’s manager as the crew packs up.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of adjacent

Adjective

In neighboring Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a staunch progressive, has faced questions about his past support for defunding the police.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
The same control mechanism could also guide heat around a delicate sensor, isolate one component from a neighboring hot chip, or protect equipment exposed to an external temperature extreme.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 July 2026

Definition of neighboring

Adjective

In the clubhouse, as Brett described it, temporary adjoining lockers bore the uniforms of each.

— Vahe Gregorian July 29, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
The Bund Lounge offers an adjoining cocktail space, retaining both the customer and their discretionary spend for considerably longer.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of adjoining

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contiguity

contiguous

continence

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“Contiguous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contiguous. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of contiguous

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