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

Opening day shoppers told IndyStar the low prices, trendy styles and comprehensive line of licensed merchandise from the Indiana Pacers to Disney intellectual property made Primark a must stop.

— Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 24 July 2026
Newsom’s signing of the bill into law last week raises the enrollment cap for the program from 15% of California’s licensed drivers to 60% — making as many as 21 million Californian’s eligible to participate.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 23 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

Ecosystem players should function as force multipliers so that speed can translate into certified, scalable output, not just faster prototypes.

— Jean-Louis Rassineux, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
After returning to Oregon, Phelps and other certified Airmen trained the rest of the weapons team ahead of the Mountain Home mission.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026

Definition of certified

Adjective

After doing clerical work, he was assigned to the Katsura Imperial Villa in his fourth year.

— Hiroshige Yazawa Japan News, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026
The union represents over 250,000 classified public school employees, like bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, para-educators, clerical staff and campus security guards.

— Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Definition of clerical

Adjective

Many experts acknowledge there are legitimate arguments for using cloning in conservation, and for gene selection in farming.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Raymond was a legitimate valedictory award for a show that had already won the Comedy Series Emmy once before in 2003.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 July 2026

Definition of legitimate

Browse Nearby Words

canon

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“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonical. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of canonical

adjective

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