Definition of contiguousnext

Synonym Chooser

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 Lavaux Vineyards Wine lovers will adore Lavaux, home of the nation’s largest contiguous vineyard area. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026 Combined with Lauren’s neighboring holdings, the acquisitions created a nearly 10-acre contiguous oceanfront compound with roughly 850 feet of direct Atlantic frontage, multiple homes, two tennis courts, and two pools. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 May 2026 However, even minor storms can cause the northern lights to appear visible farther south than usual, and potentially in the contiguous United States. Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 Not many people realize it, but the 13,000-mile-long wall is not, in fact, one contiguous structure but many segments built over several dynasties — from the Qin to the Qing — spanning about 2,000 years. Erin Tan, NBC news, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for contiguous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contiguous
Adjective
  • Justin Ewing said the aircraft landed in a field adjacent to the airport and that a nearby roadway would be shut down as a precaution.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
  • Newport Beach officials urged people living in properties adjacent to the harbor to take precautions like installing seawall plugs and placing sandbags in vulnerable areas.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • Supporters of the initiative dislike an influx of expatriates from the neighboring European Union, and say Swiss infrastructure, housing, social programs, natural resources and way of life have been strained under demographic growth.
    Jamey Keaten, Fortune, 10 June 2026
  • In neighboring Maine, Graham Platner was contending with a drumbeat of reports about his history with women that has left some Democrats worried that the party’s path to a Senate majority is suddenly imperiled.
    Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Garden at the Line has more than 60 beers and other beverages on tap, and its adjoining commercial kitchen has food from 10 restaurants, including Sacramento favorites like Kru and Binchoyaki, available for purchase.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
  • And those three constitutional amendments with the adjoining Reconstruction Acts and Civil Rights Acts—there’ll be more of those.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Contiguous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contiguous. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on contiguous

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster