ENTER Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'enter' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate , pierce , and probe . While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in. // entered the city in triumph

Q: Where would 'penetrate' be a reasonable alternative to 'enter'?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance. // the enemy penetrated the fortress

Q: When can 'pierce' be used instead of 'enter'?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument. // pierced the boil with a lancet

Q: When is it sensible to use 'probe' instead of 'enter'?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge. // probed the depths of the sea

enter

verb

ˈen-tər

Definition of enter

as in to penetrate

to go or come in or into the hikers entered the cave with considerable caution

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to join

to become a member of patriotic young men and women entering the armed services debutantes entering society

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to record

to put (someone or something) on a list new voters fill out a form and elections officials enter their names into the database

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

delete

as in to receive

to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the club enters only five new members a year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate, pierce, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

Where would penetrate be a reasonable alternative to enter?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When can pierce be used instead of enter?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When is it sensible to use probe instead of enter?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

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 enter More Americans are swimming in debt A record number of consumers entered debt consolidation in the first half of 2026, with an average balance of about $40,000, according to one of the nation’s largest debt-management nonprofits. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 Château de Cîteaux will be home to a total of 35 rooms and suites, with 18 ready for guests now and a further 17 entering the scene later in 2027. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2026 The militant faction declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabian shipping in late July, including a blockade on ships of all origins attempting to enter the country’s ports. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026 Berg has been with LAFC since the club’s founding, helping build the team into the league’s most successful franchise since entering MLS in 2018. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enter

Verb

Make sure water penetrates to the deep roots in addition to wetting surface roots.

— Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Near-infrared light (around 830 nm) penetrates even deeper, affecting fibroblasts, circulation, and tissue repair, and is frequently paired with red light for greater benefits than either alone.

— Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of penetrate

Verb

Goodwood Revival joined the calendar in 1998 with wheel-to-wheel racing, while Members’ Meeting began a more exclusive program in 2014.

— Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Council member Nancy Merrill, who supported the project as a private citizen before joining the council and voted in favor of the plan Tuesday, questioned why the proposal was rejected again.

— Noah Daly August 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of join

Verb

Across Asia, thousands of first-time investors have recently piled in to stock markets, hoping to cash in on the massive tech boom that boosted indexes in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan to record highs earlier this year.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Paul Sewald came in to record the final out after Kevin Ginkel allowed two hits and two walks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of record

Verb

In the seven weeks since the show received four Tony Awards, its weekly ticket sales have surged over 42 percent compared with the prior seven-week period.

— Marc Hershberg, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Between 2020 and 2025, fewer than 90 Tibetans were received as refugees in India, the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet’s government in exile, told CNN.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of receive

Verb

Tech giant Meta revealed Wednesday that one of its artificial intelligence models hacked another organization during testing, the third time in recent weeks that an AI model has improperly accessed a third-party company.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Under the guise of a criminal investigation, the FWC accessed our Social Security numbers, our vehicle information, home addresses, phone numbers, medical records and emergency contacts’ information.

— Isabella Herrera, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of access

Verb

She was eventually caught by the chasers — with Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) replacing Mahe, who had rejoined the peloton — but won the combativity prize of the day, which was richly deserved for a strong effort.

— Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Ahn Bo-hyun returns as Jin Yi-soo, the carefree chaebol heir turned Violent Crimes detective—rejoining the unit after completing his formal police academy training.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of rejoin

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ententes

enter

enterable

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“Enter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enter. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of enter

verb

Synonym Chooser

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Phrases Containing enter

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on enter

More from Merriam-Webster

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