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 Eventually Baldwin’s interest led her across town to the larger Westville Cemetery and adjacent cemetery owned by the Congregation Mishkan Israel. John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026 The discovery was made beneath an Israelite-period ritual deposit and adjacent to an ancient Canaanite fortification wall, according to the excavation team. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026 With one day to go, DeChambeau’s week has been an electric circus of golf-adjacent calamity. Justin Ray, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Many fans were late to the final after watching the fifth-place match on the adjacent Grandstand Court. Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for adjacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjacent
Adjective
  • Mud and long grasses signal a water source nearby, while a steepening hill beset with pebbles and stones warns of an adjoining cliff face.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • The Oaktree Capital Management cofounder and his wife, Nancy, have owned La Posada and Sa Punta for more than a decade, using the adjoining properties as holiday retreats.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 July 2026
Adjective
  • The country last held elections a decade ago and remains in a transition as armed gangs continue to tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince and the neighboring Artibonite region.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • While neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates diplomatically recognized Israel in 2020, Qatar maintained its distance.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Adjacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjacent. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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