ITEM Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'item' contrast with its synonyms?

The words detail and particular are common synonyms of item . While all three words mean "one of the distinct parts of a whole," item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated. // every item on the list

Q: When might 'detail' be a better fit than 'item'?

The synonyms detail and item are sometimes interchangeable, but detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process. // leave the details to others

Q: When would 'particular' be a good substitute for 'item'?

Although the words particular and item have much in common, particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item. // a description that included few particulars

item

noun

ˈī-təm

Definition of item

as in thing

a separate part in a list, account, or series they remembered to buy all the items on their grocery list except cereal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in information

a report of recent events or facts not previously known our next item is about the blizzard blanketing the East Coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun item contrast with its synonyms?

The words detail and particular are common synonyms of item. While all three words mean "one of the distinct parts of a whole," item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated.

every item on the list

When might detail be a better fit than item?

The synonyms detail and item are sometimes interchangeable, but detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process.

leave the details to others

When would particular be a good substitute for item?

Although the words particular and item have much in common, particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item.

a description that included few particulars

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 item Hernández sells bunches of medicinal herbs — his most popular online item — and ships them all over the country. — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026 New York assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, a democratic socialist, spoke at a rally on Thursday protesting against jailing people who steal items, such as personal care products, as a result of living in poverty. — Emily Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026 As the Green Lantern, Hal has the power to create material items through his ring and acts as an intergalactic space officer. — Matt Minton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Rather than reinventing that formula, the Max 4 scales it up dramatically for users printing items ranging from large cosplay parts to functional prototypes to industrial-style engineering components. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for item

Recent Examples of Synonyms for item

Noun

Initially a rudimentary, box-like affair, things have improved since, thanks mainly to the addition of a second tier behind the goal.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Alexandra's favorite things to do while traveling include hiking to spectacular heights, enjoying new cuisines, and gaining wisdom and new perspectives from cultures around the world.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of thing

Noun

The clubs use that data, as well as additional information gathered through other testing methods, to aid in the management of the training loads and performance of their athletes.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Sadly, progress and trust in public health and science are now being eroded with through neglect, funding cuts, and information gaps.

— Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of information

Noun

The friction is when this starts taking place in smaller resorts, luxury trains, yachts, and where the clientele is specifically paying super high prices to avoid this stuff.

— Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
This is stuff that these guys have been saying on the record very explicitly for decades.

— Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of stuff

Noun

The visuals will be accompanied by information on the science of the incredible event and details on how the agency is working to learn more about our sun.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Yemen's military said the rebels targeted both the port city of Mokha on the Red Sea coast and the central province of Marib with missiles and drones, but did not provide further details.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of detail

Noun

The week’s biggest stories Animal and pet sagas Big Bear celebrity eagle Shadow has been seen with a new eagle at the nest.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
As a preteen, I became absorbed in the life of Davy Crockett, Wild Bill Hickok and others through stories written for my age group.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of story

Noun

The particulars of what’s happened to the group are less important, however, than capturing how the world looks to them on the other side of their seventies.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026
The memo directs the Justice and Homeland Security departments to deliver the particulars in the next 60 days.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of particular

Noun

Teams earned points by winning weekly head-to-head battles – tugging a sled across the field the fastest, surviving a heated game of dodgeball – and by simply doing the right thing.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center found that while Biden won among Hispanic voters by 25 points in 2020, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris only won among them by 3 points in 2024.

— Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of point

Browse Nearby Words

itchy

item

itemization

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“Item.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/item. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of item

noun

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