Definition of continuousnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word continuous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of continuous are constant, continual, incessant, perennial, and perpetual. While all these words mean "characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence," continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

In what contexts can constant take the place of continuous?

The words constant and continuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

When would continual be a good substitute for continuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to continuous, continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

When could incessant be used to replace continuous?

While the synonyms incessant and continuous are close in meaning, incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

When is perennial a more appropriate choice than continuous?

The meanings of perennial and continuous largely overlap; however, perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

When might perpetual be a better fit than continuous?

In some situations, the words perpetual and continuous are roughly equivalent. However, perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

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 continuous Smart manufacturing tools empower employees to work more effectively, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and positioning North Carolina at the forefront of the future of rail. Tobias Bauer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026 In terms of materials, oak parquet creates a warm, continuous base throughout the apartment. Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2026 The ability to have two-way conversations in real time will be key as the Artemis program moves to a more continuous human presence on and around the moon. Adam Bluestein, Scientific American, 5 Apr. 2026 The continuous tone-on-tone color elongates the silhouette and has a refined finish. Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for continuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continuous
Adjective
  • The goal is to be in a continual improvement process, Berg said.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Far from discouraging us, Frank’s passing reminds us that the history of architecture is one of continual renewal.
    Norman Foster, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The union offered to have workers return to work in less than a week in exchange for continued contract negotiations.
    Logan Smith, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Bastian said his team needed continued inspiration to keep climbing up the industry ranks, and the five-time Super Bowl MVP was a perfect fit.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Officials said overnight enforcement will focus on common and continuing offenses such as commercial vehicles parked in residential areas and permit violations.
    Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 6 Mar. 2025
  • State of the labor market Initial weekly unemployment insurance claims have held in a fairly steady range around 220,000, though continuing claims earlier in November had hit their highest level in about three years.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Between rising costs, vanishing support systems and nonstop scrutiny, parenthood, as Ej Dickson describes in One Bad Mother, has started to feel less like a choice than a trap.
    Micah Barkley, Bloomberg, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Broadway and Downtown deliver the classic honky-tonk energy — think a live-music-heavy, country version of a nonstop party strip.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The plot attends both to twentieth-century horrors, such as Ukraine’s Holodomor, and to what Reed saw coming, in social media’s incessant threat to our inner life.
    Stephanie Burt, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
  • In the face of incessant notifications or pushy peers, try taking a walk to clear your mind before returning.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Oman is a party to UNCLOS and is therefore obligated to allow uninterrupted transit through the strait.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Schofield and Blake traverse the precarious battlefields of northern France, and Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins' expert camerawork makes the film appear to be shot with only two uninterrupted takes.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Continuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continuous. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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