1
as in imitative
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model
there's a canned quality to the screenplay that reminds you of countless other action movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drunk
slang
being under the influence of alcohol
Driving home on New Year's Eve, she worried about other drivers who might be canned.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in stopped
slang
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismissed
to let go from office, service, or employment
the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 canned
Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
For protein on a budget, focus on chicken thighs, canned tuna, eggs, lentils, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and edamame.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Garza drew a foul on an offensive rebound and canned a 3-pointer, though he also was called for two shooting fouls in his first three-minute shift.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canned
Adjective
That included canned pineapple, popularized by the Dole fruit company in the 1920s.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
For protein on a budget, focus on chicken thighs, canned tuna, eggs, lentils, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and edamame.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Recipients usually receive boxed and canned goods and fresh produce.
—Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Garza drew a foul on an offensive rebound and canned a 3-pointer, though he also was called for two shooting fouls in his first three-minute shift.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canned
Adjective
-
Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Nov. 2025
-
It may be borrowed or coined, named after a person, inspired by a place or imitative of a sound.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On Friday, May 15, a Qantas flight traveling from Melbourne, Australia, to Dallas, Texas, was diverted to Tahiti after a man who appeared to be drunk emerged from the bathroom and exhibited disruptive behavior toward flight attendants.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
And as a result, their readthrough found all of them, potentially still drunk trying to get through it.—
Reshma Gopaldas,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Can the textpocalypse be stopped?—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Otherwise, the Canadiens were stopped on their first shot and scored on their next three in Game 6; the Sabres were stopped on their first shot and scored on three straight against Jakub Dobeš in Game 5.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
That lawsuit was dismissed in December.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
For business leaders and investors, the May 20 vote should not be dismissed as symbolic diplomacy.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Most of the fish is grilled, but there are some fried and raw dishes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
-
The Best Fish to Fry Most restaurants serving fried fish often opt for haddock or Alaskan cod.—
Jack Hennessy,
Outdoor Life,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During his temporary leadership, FEMA ceased door-to-door canvassing to reach survivors after disasters, and canceled a multibillion-dollar resilience grant program, since restored by a federal judge.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
The president told Congress on May 1 that hostilities had ceased, on the day that would have been the deadline for congressional authorization.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The map has changed multiple times over the past month, and at one point was removed from the website entirely.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
During the project, the road will be removed and replaced from the first parking lot to Bruce Road, thanks to a contract by the Board of Commissioners awarded in April.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The fiery collision was one of America’s deadliest drunken driving crashes on record.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Sacramento police have scheduled a drunken driving checkpoint Friday night somewhere in the city, officers said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canned. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
