Definition of adjoiningnext

adjoining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of adjoin
1
2

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of adjoining are adjacent, contiguous, and juxtaposed. While all these words mean "being in close proximity," adjoining definitely implies meeting and touching at some point or line.

had adjoining rooms at the hotel

Where would adjacent be a reasonable alternative to adjoining?

While in some cases nearly identical to adjoining, 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 is contiguous a more appropriate choice than adjoining?

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

offices in all 48 contiguous states

When might juxtaposed be a better fit than adjoining?

In some situations, the words juxtaposed and adjoining are roughly equivalent. However, 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 adjoining
Adjective
Rather than going between adjoining communities, Cole has bounced from the South Side to the North and West. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Two tall adjoining trapezoidal forms help define the living areas inside. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Safa Muhammad lives in the townhomes adjoining the lot, and attended the open house with some neighbors. Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 Several suites are in the mix, including a Palace Roof Suite with swoon-worthy scenery from its waterfront terrace and a Bosphorus Palace Suite that can connect to adjoining rooms to create a three-bedroom royal residence. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adjoining
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjoining
Adjective
  • An additional 45,000 people were in the adjacent evacuation warning zone.
    John Raby, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Police said security camera footage showed that Alisa Goods had fallen down an embankment and collapsed and couldn’t be seen from the adjacent roadway, Wayne Newton Boulevard.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In Keyport, New Jersey, a community's residents gathered to learn more about an investigation into contaminants found at an industrial park and neighboring former landfill and whether the contaminants could be affecting their air and water.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The deal came as Washington increased pressure on neighboring Rwanda over its support for M23 rebels, a dynamic analysts say may help explain Congo’s willingness to cooperate.
    Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Options considered during the analysis included drilling holes in the existing piles and adding more steel inside, or widening the pile caps so more piles could be added on the outside.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Rounding out the promotion is the Gosoul2 Pro Dual Motor, available for US$799 with code NATLBTS, adding another dual-motor option to the Back to School lineup.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The lush valleys flanking the Teahupo’o coastline are full of drama, with towering, jagged peaks and vertiginous ridges—many far off the grid and only accessible via boat.
    Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The front end is particularly imposing, with twin LED headlights flanking a broad grille and a substantial-looking skid plate beneath the bumper.
    Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • The Flock fallout is expanding with Hopkinton, Massachusetts, joining the growing number of Commonwealth communities turning off the technology that uses cameras to scan license plates and record details like a car's make, model and color.
    Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Jenna Bissonnette has been hired as Managing Director, working out of the NYC office, with Jenna Galan joining her on the East Coast as Director, Talent and Partnerships.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Additional details surrounding the circumstances of the crash or identity of the person who died was not provided.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Mob Museum in Las Vegas has been fielding questions and debunking misinformation surrounding the case for years, said Geoff Schumacher, the museum’s vice president of research, collections and programs.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Up until that point, Whisenhunt had thrown 27 of his 46 pitches for strikes, with a four-seam fastball touching 95 mph and a sinker in the 93-94 mph range.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Burger Box at 201 E Kennedale Pkwy in Kennedale scored 57 after inspectors noted multiple violations, including an employee handling raw meat and then hamburger buns with the same gloves and employees touching ready-to-eat foods with bare hands.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ahmad grew up in Kashmir, a region in India’s northwest abutting the Himalayas, replete with vast valleys, glassy mountain lakes, and purple iris and cyan forget-me-nots.
    Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The edge of meadows or fields containing goldenrod and abutting heavier cover is especially productive, so long as there is some protective canopy.
    Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adjoining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjoining. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster