1
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind
bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature
how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor)
inexperienced wine drinkers should not start with such a big wine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the big story that year was the election of the president
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in fashionable
enjoying widespread favor or approval
jackets with very wide lapels were big that year
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body
a mare big with a foal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in heavy
one of high position or importance within a group
with that new promotion he's now one of the bigs in the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in major league
usually bigs plural
the highest level of a field of endeavor
a candidate who is running for president is playing in the bigs and cannot afford to make major mistakes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of big
Sri Jegarajah,priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Some sponsors have pulled out of the celebrations Last year, some big corporations stopped contributing to Pride events.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2026
Defensively, the athletic big showed his ability to switch and defend at every level – a trait that will be critical in the NBA.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for big
Adjective
Sri Lanka's central bank on May 26 raised its policy rate by 100 bps, the biggest hike in four years.
—Sri Jegarajah,priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Some sponsors have pulled out of the celebrations Last year, some big corporations stopped contributing to Pride events.
—Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
Noun
Toronto was shorthanded in the frontcourt without starting center Temi Fagbenle (right shoulder), and the Sparks trio of bigs had a field day with 54 points in the paint.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2026
Defensively, the athletic big showed his ability to switch and defend at every level – a trait that will be critical in the NBA.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for big
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big
Adjective
-
He was wanted in connection with three killings in the Puna District, a large rural area on the island’s east coast.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
The decor gets markedly more elaborate in larger suites like the Presidential Suite, with its own media room for film screenings and soaking tubs by windows with Hermes toiletries.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Senior Matheus Alvarenga said the chemistry on the team has been a major reason for the fluidity.—
Zach McMahon,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Miami reaching the national title game was a major step for a program that had been in a 20-year slumber.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Monroe’s image-making Monroe always had greater agency over her still images than her moving images, which were largely determined by the film studios and directors.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
In performance and direction, and in the small ways in which Caswell and Wills have plotted out this isolated love story, there’s a level of great richness and detail.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Over the course of Gregory Orr’s long career, his poems have become increasingly incantatory, more and more like chants or psalms, repeating, reformulating, reaching for the edges of the same rich metaphors.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Time gave us the late-career brilliance of filmmakers like Jane Campion, Agnès Varda, Claire Denis, and Kathryn Bigelow, whose work became richer, fiercer, and more self-assured because these women had lived and learned so much.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Dylan Redford, who serves as co-creator, director, editor, cinematographer, production sound mixer, main title editor and motion design director on the series, is the grandson of the late Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor and Sundance Film Festival founder who died last year at 89.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
30 May 2026
-
Entergy New Orleans, the city’s main electric utility, has an accelerated grid-hardening plan that aims to replace existing utility poles with more fortified poles to withstand higher winds and selectively move some lines underground in high-risk areas.—
Sufan Jiang,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
To truly put your most fashionable foot forward, spring for the splurge-worthy Rag & Bone Emilee Ballet Sneakers—the on-trend sneakerinas are now over $100 off.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2026
-
This is an island that attracts a fashionable globetrotting crowd, and loyal St Regis fans—arguably one in the same.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Most adults including pregnant people either have no symptoms or experience mild, flu-like illness such as fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, and muscle or joint aches.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Women had the option of choosing who to be with, and not to accidentally get pregnant with the wrong guy.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
According to my mom, allowing the product to sit on these surfaces makes cleaning much less scrubbing-heavy, which is a win in her book.—
Aliyah Rodriguez,
The Spruce,
27 May 2026
-
Essentially, those who already coached ‘big club’ football — high pressing, possession-heavy — tend to perform quite well.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Big.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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