1
as in stops
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacks
to let go from office, service, or employment
the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the racketeers were rounded up and thrown in the can
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restrooms
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste
I excused myself and asked if I could use the can
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in seats
the part of the body upon which someone sits
he fell on the ice and landed on his can
Synonyms & Similar 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 cans
Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
People were throwing toilet paper rolls and full beer cans.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
The store also had expired cans of food on sales shelves, and inspectors observed black organic matter on the interior of the ice machine.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
Demi would love it if Tim didn’t leave quite so many empty zero-sugar soda cans around the home.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
With that in mind, Lilly walking in front of cans of Calumet at the grocery store feels intentional.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
On the low end, this can equate to about four cans, or about $80, each month.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
With a 15 percent price increase, the same amount of money that beneficiary spends would cover only six cans.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Other ideas include machines that can redeem bottles and cans in bulk by the bag, rather than the tedious process of feeding them into a machine one at a time.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Wrappers and crushed soda cans.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
People were throwing toilet paper rolls and full beer cans.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
The store also had expired cans of food on sales shelves, and inspectors observed black organic matter on the interior of the ice machine.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
Demi would love it if Tim didn’t leave quite so many empty zero-sugar soda cans around the home.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
With that in mind, Lilly walking in front of cans of Calumet at the grocery store feels intentional.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
On the low end, this can equate to about four cans, or about $80, each month.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
With a 15 percent price increase, the same amount of money that beneficiary spends would cover only six cans.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Other ideas include machines that can redeem bottles and cans in bulk by the bag, rather than the tedious process of feeding them into a machine one at a time.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cans
Verb
-
The elevator stops at each floor and a new ghostly guest arrives offering some insight into Will’s plan.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Some gardeners choose to pinch those old flowers away every day to enhance the look of their plants, while others decide to wait until the entire flower scape stops blooming to cut the scape stem down to the soil line.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Ohio State sacks Altmyer five times, wins its 10th straight in the series and covers the spread.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Felix Anudike-Uzomah #97 of the Kansas City Chiefs sacks Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The cartel members agreed to raise their December production target by 137,000 barrels per day, matching the hike for October and November.—
Lee Ying Shan,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
-
After aging in traditional bourbon barrels, the bourbon is double-barreled in two unique, slowly toasted and charred barrels.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While proponents of wearable technology in prisons and jails have described it as potentially lifesaving, privacy rights groups and even law enforcement officials say the devices can raise ethical and legal concerns and urge agencies to establish strict rules on data use, retention and consent.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Roughly 80% of people in those jails have not been convicted of a crime.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The new courthouse has public restrooms on each floor.—
Douglas Hanks
November 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Outfitted with restrooms, showers, and picnic areas, the full-facility Weeping Ridge family campground has 30 campsites equipped with electricity and water.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That means thousands of flights canceled, or in other words, 200,000 fewer seats and butts in the air per day.—
The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Electricity costs were a key issue in this week’s elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, a data center hotspot, and in Georgia, where Democrats ousted two Republican incumbents for seats on the state’s utility regulatory commission.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But Duffy said air traffic controllers probably wouldn’t return to work right away, even if the shutdown ends.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
From arts and history to beaches and boardwalks, these four coastal towns are worth a visit after the busy season ends.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Other types of filters include activated carbon, which removes odors, chemicals, and harmful gases, and UV-C light filters, which can kill bacteria and viruses.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In an overly dramatic transformation sequence, Robert’s boss removes the necklace and is bathed in light — only to wind up a few inches shorter and brunette.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cans. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share