Definition of adjacentnext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of adjacent are adjoining, contiguous, and juxtaposed. While all these words mean "being in close proximity," adjacent may or may not imply contact but always implies absence of anything of the same kind in between.

a house with an adjacent garage

When could adjoining be used to replace adjacent?

While in some cases nearly identical to adjacent, adjoining definitely implies meeting and touching at some point or line.

had adjoining rooms at the hotel

When would contiguous be a good substitute for adjacent?

While the synonyms contiguous and adjacent are close in meaning, contiguous implies having contact on all or most of one side.

offices in all 48 contiguous states

When can juxtaposed be used instead of adjacent?

Although the words juxtaposed and adjacent have much in common, juxtaposed means placed side by side especially so as to permit comparison and contrast.

a skyscraper juxtaposed to a church

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 adjacent The approach positions petal alongside a small number of pop-adjacent projects that treat the visual album not as marketing collateral but as a standalone piece of filmmaking, complete with its own vocabulary of setting, wardrobe and character arc. Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Many came for academia and ultimately stayed for technology and tech-adjacent jobs in finance and biotech. Shindy Chen, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 Now add the fun of a massive road project that is essentially adjacent to the facility, and attending Longhorns football games this season — and the next several — will mean packing in more time. Mac Engel july 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026 Is RuPaul’s Drag Race icon Kori King — who famously impersonated Michael Jackson on the red carpet at the 2025 Emmys — engaged in an online squabble involving Kardashian-adjacent reality TV star Blac Chyna’s mother, Tokyo Toni? Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for adjacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjacent
Adjective
  • In the clubhouse, as Brett described it, temporary adjoining lockers bore the uniforms of each.
    Vahe Gregorian July 29, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
  • The Bund Lounge offers an adjoining cocktail space, retaining both the customer and their discretionary spend for considerably longer.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Adjective
  • In neighboring Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a staunch progressive, has faced questions about his past support for defunding the police.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • The same control mechanism could also guide heat around a delicate sensor, isolate one component from a neighboring hot chip, or protect equipment exposed to an external temperature extreme.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Adjacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjacent. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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