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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective new differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of new are fresh, novel, and original. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," new may apply to what is freshly made and unused, what has not been known before, or what has not been experienced before.

new brick
new designs
starts the new job

When would fresh be a good substitute for new?

While the synonyms fresh and new are close in meaning, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

When might novel be a better fit than new?

The words novel and new are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

When is it sensible to use original instead of new?

In some situations, the words original and new are roughly equivalent. However, original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

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 new
Adjective
That’s six games without a goal now for their new striker, who still looks awkward in this side. Tim Spiers, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025 The United Community Center invited Early Learning Center's staff to apply for positions under new ownership, according to Moore's email to parents. Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025 Often, the preseason games allow coaches to give newer roster members, including rookies and offseason acquisitions, some playing time in a game setting. Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025 This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including fresh picks by Young Miko, Natalia Lafourcade, and Ricky Martin & Carín León revamping a 1995 classic, to name a few. Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for new
Recent Examples of Synonyms for new
Adjective
  • His role on Monday was a novel one.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Robert Bloch published the novel Psycho, which was partially based on Gein’s crimes, in 1959.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Newcastle were short of midfield cover and Ramsey, with his dynamism, athleticism and positive attacking mindset, gives them a fresh option.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Nicole Kidman sported bangs with a fresh new wavy cut for the SS26 Chanel Runway Presentation for Paris Fashion Week.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Fans are also anticipating getting their first looks inside the refreshed stadium.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Each year, Indiana Landmarks releases the list to advocate for the sites in hope of educating people and attracting developers, individuals and organizations to contribute financially and help these buildings find a refreshed purpose.
    Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But modern dentists are skeptical as to how effective this practice actually is at improving oral health.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Netflix's modern retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, set in the tiny Tennessee town of Pegram, recently hit the global streaming platform.
    Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Some workers, whose programs have alternative funding sources, continue to be paid on time.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
  • At Ares Management's analyst day last month, the alternative asset manager quietly bumped up its three-year fundraising targets by 25%.
    Leslie Picker, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Many speculated about what Dundon’s ownership of a newly successful National Hockey League team in Raleigh, North Carolina, would portend for Oregon’s oldest and biggest sports franchise.
    Tony Schick, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2025
  • While other newly wealthy entertainers were buying chains and cars, Druski was building a production company.
    Essence, Essence, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • All this because a political debate has arisen, where the main players are politicians from 30 years ago, very conservative, who are unfamiliar with innovation.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • From day one, new consultants rotate across industries, geographies, and functions, adapting on the fly and mastering unfamiliar businesses.
    Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The montage opened with a shot of As ever's Apricot Spread and Orange Marmalade in a gift box and rolled to show a photo revealing a brand-new item — a 2024 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc — chilled on ice.
    Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace expands the universe with a brand-new setting, cast, and mythology.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“New.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/new. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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