case 1 of 3

Definition of casenext

case

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noun (2)

1
as in patient
an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment her doctor wishes that all of his cases were as cooperative as she is

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like this is a perfect case of people jumping to the wrong conclusion before all the facts are known

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act you'll get a chance to make your case, but unless you're very convincing, your request will be denied

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
as in possibility
something that might happen it may be the case that the cause of the fire will forever remain a mystery

Synonyms & Similar Words

7

case

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word case distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of case are example, illustration, instance, sample, and specimen. While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

When would example be a good substitute for case?

While in some cases nearly identical to case, example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

When is it sensible to use illustration instead of case?

While the synonyms illustration and case are close in meaning, illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

When could instance be used to replace case?

Although the words instance and case have much in common, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

In what contexts can sample take the place of case?

The meanings of sample and case largely overlap; however, sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

When might specimen be a better fit than case?

The synonyms specimen and case are sometimes interchangeable, but specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

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 case
Noun
The deadline to apply for a $50 million settlement from The Walt Disney Company, linked to a class action case claiming the company helped drive up subscription prices for streaming platforms, is approaching. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Carroll made his case to the judge, gained his favor, and began his journey looking for his parents. Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Verb
Resist the urge to scrub at your tiles, as this can case premature wear on the paint. Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026 As technology becomes more sophisticated and third-party vendors offer everything from billing to case management to remote reception, running a small but competitive practice is more viable than ever. Liane Jackson, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for case
Recent Examples of Synonyms for case
Noun
  • Bold aromas of black cherry, espresso bean, and nutmeg give way to sublime flavors of cassis, charcuterie, and freshly ground nutmeg wrapped in a sheath of feathery tannins.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
  • More recently, a forensic scientist and criminologist hired by Kohberger's defense team named Brent Turvey has raised concerns about the chain of custody of the prosecution's main piece of evidence, a Ka-Bar knife sheath with Kohberger's DNA on it recovered next to Mogen and Goncalves.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The Orange County District Attorney's Office charged the 71-year-old Irvine resident accused of beating a duckling to death with a plastic recycling bin last month.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • The Blank Slate Truck has bucket seats and a center tray with cup holders and open bins.
    Sara Lacey, The Drive, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Remarkably, Simao is one of five nurses in the hospital's oncology department who can relate to their patients on a deeper level because of past diagnoses.
    Rina Nakano, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • Sensipar, which is also sold under the generic name cinacalcet hydrochloride, is prescribed to patients with chronic kidney disease and high levels of calcium in the blood related to parathyroid gland conditions, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • The Chicago suburb of Kenilworth and the Washington, DC, suburb of Chevy Chase, for example, have fewer than 5,000 households each.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • This is just one example of the many good Turkish Clinics that offer hair transplants at lower prices than those in some markets.
    Malana VanTyler, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • In fact, many of us often end up buying things that our colleagues found during their search.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • In fact, Trea Turner kept the game alive with a single to center field.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Espeland offers a technical explanation.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • Another expert — the state archaeologist — also will study the hole, likely this week, even as some remain skeptical of the sinkhole explanation.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • The almost two-week-old truce has been under persistent strain, with the latest bout of attacks beginning after an Iranian projectile hit a cargo ship on Thursday, prompting strikes by the US, and then Tehran hitting Washington’s Gulf allies.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 29 June 2026
  • But in the latest bout of public uncertainty, a senior Iranian official suggested this may not be the case.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • In your view, are the biggest risks from AI systems themselves or from the humans deploying them, the possibility of AI in the hands of rogue actors is particularly concerning here.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • As the possibilities are almost as large and endless as the country itself, Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) went to the industry’s makers in search of their unique perspectives.
    Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Case.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/case. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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