atmosphere

noun

ˈat-mə-ˌsfir How to pronounce atmosphere (audio)
Definition of atmospherenext
1
as in aura
a special quality or impression associated with something the fireplace and cozy armchairs give the bookstore the atmosphere of a comfortable home

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in environment
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded liked the quiet and scholarly atmosphere of his prep school

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 atmosphere Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, which is the main component in natural gas and far more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide in the short term. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 Around a third of methane emitted into the atmosphere comes from natural sources like wetlands, with the rest from anthropogenic sources such as cattle, rice farming, landfills and biomass burning. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Over 95 percent of the Martian atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide, making survival difficult. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026 Nightmare on Main 5K The fourth and final race in this year’s Kennesaw Grand Prix Series is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier with a fun atmosphere. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atmosphere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atmosphere
  1. aura
  2. environment
  3. air
  4. climate
  5. smell
  6. surround
  7. aroma
  8. ambience
Noun
  • The Melbourne duo taps into trip-hop’s essential strangeness on its latest album, trading the genre’s boilerplate languor for dejected moods, menacing auras, and slippery, all-consuming bass.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Only one copy will ever legally exist, in a protest against the loss of music’s aura in the age of its digital reproducibility, to paraphrase German philosopher Walter Benjamin.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of aura
Noun
  • This provides a dense environment in which nuclei can interact.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Brands should lean into real people, real environments, distinctive perspectives and visual details that come from actual experience.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of environment
Noun
  • Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones connected to Starshield lost connectivity at high speeds, disrupting air defenses during daily Russian air attacks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This position causes the moonlight to pass through a denser layer of air, shortening blue and violet wavelengths and making the orange and red ones stand out — similar to a sunset.
    — Dharma Niles, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of air
Noun
  • Please make clear which conclusions come from building inspections, which reflect broader climate research and which remain uncertain.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Of the three major greenhouse gases, CO2 accounts for about 66% of the warming effect on the climate.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of climate
Noun
  • Butler told us to close our eyes and asked us to notice every sound and smell, the feel of the wind, and whatever was moving around inside us.
    — Heide Brandes, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Then one day, the boy’s clothes came no more, and instead his ashes were strewn into the river—ashes with none of the smells that the river remembered on the boy’s collars.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of smell
Noun
  • An electric fireplace and lots of glazing round out the space, and the timber shiplap finish and faux stone fireplace surround are a nice touch, lending it a cabin-like look.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The porcelain faces on the surround are from the Chelsea Flea.
    — Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of surround
Noun
  • Presented by Carolina Herrera For those drawn to hyper-femme perfumes, Carolina Herrera fragrances are often a popular choice—the range remains a crowd-pleaser for lovers of sweet, floral, and bold aromas.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The 2020 Gran Vino has aromas of kiwi, gooseberry, and white peach.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of aroma
Noun
  • Still, formality is the order of the day, befitting the ultra-luxurious ambiance.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • There is nothing better than sitting in the Chili's bar on a college football Saturday afternoon, ordering some chips and salsa and an ice-cold Coke and just soaking in the ambience.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of ambience

Browse Nearby Words

at loggerheads
atmosphere
atmosphered
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Cite this Entry

“Atmosphere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atmosphere. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on atmosphere

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about atmosphere

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