Definition of eranext
as in day
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the introduction of the mass production of cars on an assembly line ushered in the era of the automobile

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun era differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of era are age, epoch, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

When might age be a better fit than era?

While in some cases nearly identical to era, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Where would epoch be a reasonable alternative to era?

While the synonyms epoch and era are close in meaning, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

When would period be a good substitute for era?

In some situations, the words period and era are roughly equivalent. However, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

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 era In the modern era, the smallest hiking cycle was 137 basis points (1986-87), the median 313 basis points and the average 478 basis points, according to Deutsche Bank Global Head of Macro and Thematic Research Jim Reid. — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026 Hot on the heels of Gigi Hadid’s Valentino Haute Couture opener, the Italian supermodel swept onto the runway in an equally showstopping look from the house’s archives—plucked straight from the Pierpaolo Piccioli era. — Alice Abbiadati, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026 Make no mistake, Jack is also an unambiguous Trump-era Republican. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 The song follows two other rulers from the Better Late Than Never era, released in November 2025. — Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
Noun
  • Geiger-Müller and neutron detectors found no detectable gamma or X-ray emissions, while neutron counts remained statistically indistinguishable from background during about five days of monitoring.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
  • My king bed was crisp, puffy, and beyond dreamy to slip into after a long day on my feet.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • As ballot stations opened in Casablanca and Rabat, voters of various ages formed small but continuous lines to cast their ballots.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Raman also had 64% of likely voters ages 30 to 39 compared with Bass’ 12%, and the council member had 50% of likely voters ages 40 to 49 compared with Bass’ 18%.
    — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The after action reports could help verify the last time the agency had contact with the family.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Wheaton North kicked deep this time, and Thomas ran for a pair of first downs to secure Wheaton Warrenville South’s win.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The crawlers wander about the plants for a short period of time and then begin to feed and create a waxy covering.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The campaign in Ituri and North Kivu is expected to cover 20,000 front-line workers over a period of six to nine months.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.
    — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yet, in contending with the invading species, Denise is fashioned into a female action hero more in keeping with the epoch of director Quentin Tarantino than with that of President Ronald Reagan.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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