FUNCTIONS Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

functions 1 of 2

noun

plural of function

as in events

a social gathering made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function

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Relevance

as in positions

an assignment at which one regularly works for pay what's your function in this company?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in roles

the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists that machine's function is to sort bolts by size

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functions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of function

as in acts

to have a certain purpose the heart functions as a pump for the blood

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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 functions

Noun

By producing pure, highly concentrated molecules that mimic the skin’s natural functions, Lewisham claims her products are more consistent, precise and sustainable. — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Governance, risk and compliance functions don't typically review AI agent deployments. — Steve Wilson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Brutal temperatures have driven travelers to fork over $150 for the Shark ChillPill, a viral portable fan with three distinct cooling functions. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 Controls cover the basic playback functions, including repeat-one, sequential-play, and shuffle modes – though ultimately, the spinning disc remains the star of the show. — New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2026 These agreements allow state and local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under federal supervision. — Ascend Agency, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 These nutrients contribute to functions such as immune health, normal fluid balance, and maintaining healthy body processes. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026 The White House has said presidents from both parties have sought additional space for large events and official functions for years. — Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026 Some corporate functions, ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television and film studios are expected to be impacted, with Pixar said to be the film studio seeing the most cuts, and Nat Geo most heavily impacted at DET, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026

Verb

Chennai claimed him as Thala, a Tamil word meaning leader that functions as something closer to a title of devotion. — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Within OpenAI’s finance department, led by CFO Sarah Friar, there is a strategic finance team that functions as a cross-functional partner to product, partnerships, engineering, and go-to-market teams. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 The Pixel Watch has a metric with the same name that functions similarly, while Oura and Whoop also recommend daily activity levels. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Go inside a summer camp that functions like a pediatric hospital. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 The system functions more like a ladder than a one-way pipeline. — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 31 July 2026 Messi, by this stage, functions more like a black hole than like an athlete. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 In the absence of phony injuries, World Cup athletic trainers have had little cause to deploy the dermal refrigerant, which basically functions as an aerosolized placebo. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026 Originally built in 1932 as a private residence, the main lodge still functions as the hub of the property with a casual bar, excellent restaurant, living rooms to gather, and plenty of porch space. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for functions

Noun

The chain of events that led to another extermination began when Lauren Cohan’s Maggie and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan captured their season 2 nemesis, the Dama (Lisa Emery), after the big bad had her men attack them.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Special events, like one in San Francisco, will combine live coverage with scientific discussions and unique performances.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of events

Noun

Its infrared search and track data fed directly into an onboard AI agent that controlled the X-62A and guided it into tactical intercept positions.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
The board recently approved eliminating 168 general fund positions, and the district projects paying $49 million less in salaries this year.

— David Smiley, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of positions

Noun

Americans are navigating a labor market with opportunities for some but not for all, sidelining job seekers and leaving many of the youngest job hunters without the foundational roles and skills needed for their futures.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
The data reveals on-site entry-level positions pay dramatically less than hybrid and remote roles.

— Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of roles

Verb

The sticky asphalt also acts like flypaper, trapping any organism that falls in and providing scientists with evidence of a distant world.

— Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026
The 15th-century Castello di Santa Caterina, a fortress perched atop Favignana’s highest hill, acts as the royal palace.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of acts

Noun

Beyond its diverse menu, Corazón hosts vibrant community events, from dance parties to Indigenous healing circles, fostering deep belonging.

— Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Jennings says, in situations like this, the two parties usually come to an agreement, but this should be a lesson.

— Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of parties

Noun

On employment, the United States had nearly 159 million jobs in June, not including farmworkers, which was a record.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Economists’ estimated monthly employment gains of 95,000 jobs would mark an increase from June’s lower-than-expected 57,000 jobs added.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of jobs

Noun

Instead, the Children's Trust was used and abused by the Kittrells for exclusively their own purposes and in fact the Kittrells treat the trust assets for nearly all purposes as their own.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Cost basis is the property's value for tax purposes — the starting point used to calculate a taxable gain or loss when the property is sold.

— Sharon Epperson,Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of purposes

Verb

The narrow waterway passing between Iran and Oman serves as the main route for shipping crude from oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait to the rest of the world.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
The climb up to Highlands, a Western North Carolina mountain town sitting at 4,118 feet above sea level, serves as a transition of sorts.

— Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of serves

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functioning

functions

fund

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Style

“Functions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functions. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of functions

noun

verb

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