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

Creators are influential but not yet authoritative in the ways that matter for business.

— Ohad Ben Artzi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Indeed, chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude are simultaneously authoritative-sounding and eager-to-please, a combination that can lead to terrible-yet-seductive advice that many users accept with little to no critical pushback.

— Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 6 Aug. 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

Bryant, 48, is a licensed financial adviser who has worked in school counseling, adult education and substitute teaching, according to her South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Board questionnaire.

— Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
When a licensed therapist makes a mistake, there are ethical standards, licensing boards and established systems of recourse.

— Wayne Lonstein, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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

Thirty minutes from the Woburn research lab, Black Earth Compost accepts certified compostable materials.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
In August 2025, WJZ reported that a Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education investigation found two classes at a Howard County special education school were not being taught by a certified teacher.

— Kellye Lynn, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of certified

Adjective

The jobs were broken down into around 200 management roles, 67 office or clerical roles, 67 professional, 534 skilled and 133 unskilled.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of clerical

Adjective

The Ukrainian government has said the facilities are legitimate military targets because the company supplies Russia’s frontline troops.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
But perhaps no option is as intriguing as Trice, a legitimate wildcard who’s played roughly 50 preseason snaps and nothing else in his professional career.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of legitimate

Browse Nearby Words

canon

canonical

canonize

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Style

“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonical. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of canonical

adjective

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