case 1 of 3

Definition of casenext

case

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noun (2)

1
as in patient
an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment her doctor wishes that all of his cases were as cooperative as she is

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like this is a perfect case of people jumping to the wrong conclusion before all the facts are known

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act you'll get a chance to make your case, but unless you're very convincing, your request will be denied

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
as in possibility
something that might happen it may be the case that the cause of the fire will forever remain a mystery

Synonyms & Similar Words

7

case

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word case distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of case are example, illustration, instance, sample, and specimen. While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

When would example be a good substitute for case?

While in some cases nearly identical to case, example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

When is it sensible to use illustration instead of case?

While the synonyms illustration and case are close in meaning, illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

When could instance be used to replace case?

Although the words instance and case have much in common, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

In what contexts can sample take the place of case?

The meanings of sample and case largely overlap; however, sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

When might specimen be a better fit than case?

The synonyms specimen and case are sometimes interchangeable, but specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

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 case
Noun
The special circumstances charged in this case — the allegation that Reiner committed multiple homicides — opened the door to capital punishment. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026 Powell’s suit is being heard under New York’s 2019 Child Victims Act, which allowed accusers to sue people and organizations, such as the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts, for harm done to them as children—in some cases decades later. Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
The legal battle came after Saudi national Omar al-Bayoumi was seen on video casing the Capitol in the summer of 1999, pointing out Congress, the Washington Monument and the skyline and jotting down in a notebook a formula to calculate the rate of descent. Joe Dwinell Boston Herald, Arkansas Online, 19 Nov. 2025 As technology becomes more sophisticated and third-party vendors offer everything from billing to case management to remote reception, running a small but competitive practice is more viable than ever. Liane Jackson, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for case
Recent Examples of Synonyms for case
Verb
  • Red brick walls enclose a tropical jungle retreat of sorts, where garden chairs are scattered around imparting a feel of lounging in someone’s backyard, and there is even a tiny pond on the premises.
    Arundhati Hazra, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The bones and cartilage are enclosed in a membrane that’s filled with an oily liquid called synovial fluid.
    Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • American bases built inside the ice sheet, such as Camp Century, were quickly crushed as the encasing snow deformed.
    Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Unfortunately, the dark, warm, moist environment encasing our feet is the perfect environment for bacteria and fungus spores to thrive and grow.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Plus, with both petite and short inseam options, they are designed to fit right off the rack with no tailoring required.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
  • There is no one organizational system that fits every family and lifestyle, but there are some tips and tricks that help.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Residents of Mountain Village, the European-style town that encompasses the Telluride ski resort, on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a 5% lift-ticket tax to help fund the construction, maintenance and operation of the iconic gondola that connects the mountain with the town of Telluride.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
  • So everything about that, which was also what was so indelible and so pleasurable about that, was also what the big challenge was, encompassing all that.
    Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • All those years of speeches are housed in one place, across the street from the Capitol, in the State Library and court building.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • When manual driving is selected, the airbag housed within the steering wheel is used instead.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Officials originally proposed upgrading the city’s largest cricket stadium, The Gabba, to accommodate the Games, though the project’s price tag was heavily criticized.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The pajamas are available in short, regular, and tall lengths to accommodate different heights and builds.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Case.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/case. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

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