CANONICAL Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

canonical

adjective

Definition of canonical

as in apostolic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in authoritative

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 canonical The canonical examples are handmade luxury items like Hermès bags. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 June 2026 There was a return to the canonical pieces that define our favorites. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 June 2026 Hints at the canonical Big Daddies of existential clown float through the air — Beckett would recognize this pair, and so would Jean Genet. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026 Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, the canonical speech production and comprehension regions, appear to remain connected and active during sleep. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for canonical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canonical

Adjective

On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.

— Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church directed his remarks to university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, during an 11-day apostolic journey in Africa.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of apostolic

Adjective

The database serves as the government’s authoritative public record of war dead.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Institutions must determine which information sources are authoritative, establish processes for keeping content current, define ownership of knowledge across departments and create standards for how information is shared between systems.

— Chase Williams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of authoritative

Adjective

Ghost have shared the new trailer for 2 Big to Rig, the upcoming concert film documenting the Swedish papal heavy metal outfit’s 2025 gigs in Mexico City.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
The last few weeks have shown his governing style and a remarkable run of papal decision-making where Leo has set the agenda, rather than merely fulfill the appointments set by his predecessor.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of papal

Adjective

Hemp beverages reached national scale by selling outside the licensed marijuana system, the same system that taxes and constrains the legacy and social equity operators Dawson has spent years amplifying.

— Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Although consumers cannot access the private MLS directly, licensed agents can view information that is not publicly available, including showing instructions, price-change histories and other market data.

— Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Definition of licensed

Adjective

After returning to the United States, Novakovic attended an Episcopal boarding school in San Antonio, Texas.

— byRachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 May 2026
On New Year’s Eve in 1996, Christou followed Deadbeat with a club at a former Episcopal church that was built in 1865.

— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

Definition of episcopal

Adjective

The efforts come as vehicles have grown increasingly more complex and harder for individual owners or non-automaker certified stores to work on in the aftermarket.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 27 July 2026
From dead cockroaches to missing certified managers, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City-area restaurants last week.

— Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026

Definition of certified

Adjective

Palo Alto police confirmed the 49ers coach was at fault and said a clerical error led a state database to wrongly blame the other driver, a 21-year-old woman.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Brookings found that this vulnerable group is primarily located in clerical and administrative occupations, and 86 percent are women.

— Peter D. Banko, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of clerical

Adjective

Because these pages appear while users are connecting through a hotel or venue’s legitimate Wi-Fi gateway, the deception is difficult for users to recognize.

— Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The legislation evolved because lawmakers raised legitimate concerns, and those concerns were taken seriously.

— Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of legitimate

Browse Nearby Words

canon

canonical

canonize

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“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonical. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of canonical

adjective

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