society

noun

sə-ˈsī-ə-tē How to pronounce society (audio)
Definition of societynext
1
as in organization
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest a debate society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in community
the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions an evening marked by a lovely dinner and the society of our closest friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in civilization
the way people live at a particular time and place a pre-automobile society in which ordinary people rarely strayed far from home

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 society For his contributions to reforming education in Ladakh, Wangchuk was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award, a prestigious Asia-wide honor presented for selfless and transformative service to society, in 2018. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026 What Jessie Cave's OnlyFans says about society Cave got the idea for OnlyFans from a friend, after hitting a wall with her finances. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 20 July 2026 Those menaces to society take their street tactics with them behind bars and prey on each other. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026 The Indian case speaks to both the possibility of a genuinely multilingual society and its risks. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for society
Recent Examples of Synonyms for society
  1. organization
  2. community
  3. civilization
  4. institution
  5. brotherhood
  6. lifestyle
  7. association
  8. company
Noun
  • By balancing strict fiscal management with an aggressive plan to diversify support and expand with new donors, the organization aims to ensure long-term stability while continuing to deliver high-quality artistic programming to Charlotte.
    — Catherine Muccigrosso July 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • Here’s where things stand, based on conversations with members of the organization and other league sources.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of organization
Noun
  • The rebrand reflects a broader shift in how the disability community wants to be represented, and who gets to make that call.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The pastor didn’t suggest endorsing candidates, but instead focusing on issues, like advocating for immigration reform, and using religion as a tool for community organizing.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of community
Noun
  • Nakassis, who has spent his career studying the archaeological record of the Mycenaean and other early Greek civilizations, is sympathetic to the practical challenge a film production depicting the ancient world faces.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Based on Landa’s work, Mayanists of the 1930s and ‘40s developed an image of the classic Maya as a civilization without war, but living under the control of astronomer-priests who used their complex calendars to rule the common people.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 21 July 2026
Definition of civilization
Noun
  • Sheikh Hamad's own contribution was probably not any single institution.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Lending institutions including those providing home mortgages and car loans should require that all student debt payments be kept current as a condition to borrowers incurring even more debt.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Definition of institution
Noun
  • Not all has been blissful brotherhood, though, especially on social media.
    — the Monitor’s Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026
  • Another one of their friends, also gone, recruited a lifetime ago by Iran Air into a brotherhood that lasted the rest of their lives.
    — Mahsa Alimardani, Time, 6 July 2026
Definition of brotherhood
Noun
  • The president's granddaughter said she's developed many of her own fitness habits by researching what works and adapting it to fit her lifestyle.
    — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • That premise is crucial to the business model of SGG Media, an upstart agency which represents an army of social media accounts catering to verticals like athletics and lifestyle.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 July 2026
Definition of lifestyle
Noun
  • When that proved unsustainable, the association hired a landscaping company.
    — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • On July 14, council member Meredith Stead pointed to two neighborhood associations in her district — one in favor of the designation, the other strongly opposed.
    — Mark Dee July 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026
Definition of association
Noun
  • The Charlotte Observer previously reported on a different company, American Log Homes and Cabins.
    — Julia Coin July 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • Liverpool will hold its event outside Fenway Park in Boston, home of the Boston Red Sox, which is also owned by the club’s parent company Fenway Sports Group, while Leeds United will be represented in San Francisco, where 49ers Enterprises is based.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of company

Browse Nearby Words

societies
society
sociopathic
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Cite this Entry

“Society.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/society. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on society

Nglish: Translation of society for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about society

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