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1
as in tall
extending to a great distance upward as the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest is mountaineering's holy grail

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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high

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noun

high

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective high contrast with its synonyms?

The words lofty and tall are common synonyms of high. While all three words mean "above the average in height," high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.

a high hill
a high ceiling

In what contexts can lofty take the place of high?

Although the words lofty and high have much in common, lofty suggests great or imposing altitude.

lofty mountain peaks

When might tall be a better fit than high?

The words tall and high can be used in similar contexts, but tall applies to what grows or rises high by comparison with others of its kind and usually implies relative narrowness.

a tall thin man

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 high
Adjective
Change should be regarded as a high value-add product that deserves the same levels of resource support and operational rigor as any of your top-performing products. Phil Gilbert, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025 Past recipients of the EE Rising Star Award have gone on to achieve some of cinema’s highest accolades and become household names. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
The survey came days after data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed Americans’ household debt levels have reached a record high. Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2025 Here, see the best, worst and most oops moments in our roundup of the highs, lows and yikes of the latest episode of SNL. Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Your confidence will reach at an all-time high this winter thanks to these markdowns on curve-hugging jeans, dresses, and shirts. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025 Every November, Cook says, her whole office is stacked high with cans and boxes of food. Tovia Smith, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for high
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Five years after Dan died at 32 years old, Judy decided to make their lifelong dream of getting the 75-foot-tall Norway spruce outside their home in upstate New York to the front of Rockefeller Center come true.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • But in the early 2000s, Women’s Health Initiative studies found an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke in some women taking hormone therapy.
    Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Among those who’d be worried by its increased dominance?
    Mark Dent, HubSpot, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Kirkpatrick informed the Kowalskis that those suffering from CRPS often show elevated levels of glutamate, an amino acid, which can be inhibited by ketamine infusions.
    Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The image featured a glass of white wine next to a cup of green juice that was partially drunk.
    Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • If auto insurance with one carrier is more expensive than with another, a discount may not offset the difference.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Why are consumers facing more expensive Affordable Care Act health insurance?
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • WeRide is a member of this year’s Future 50, Fortune’s annual ranking of companies with the greatest potential for growth.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After looking over the latest update from Jim Bowden, the odds of Bregman staying with the Red Sox are not looking too great currently.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Can Atlanta’s defense, which ranks among the top half of teams in both sacks and quarterback rating, similarly harass Jones?
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • To keep each of your loads in top shape, the laundry pro recommends proper sorting (keeping whites and lights in one pile and darks and colors in another) to avoid dye transfer.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • In the footage, also obtained by PEOPLE, Tarek can be seen wearing a ripped shirt as he's questioned by an officer in a small room with his elderly dad.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
  • When at ports, the crew does everything from deck tours and day sails to maintenance, such as fixing a stove, sewing a ripped sail or doing laundry.
    Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Cite this Entry

“High.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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