Definition of conformnext
1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb conform contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conform are accommodate, adapt, adjust, and reconcile. While all these words mean "to bring one thing into correspondence with another," conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle.

refused to conform to society's values

Where would accommodate be a reasonable alternative to conform?

The words accommodate and conform can be used in similar contexts, but accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence.

accommodated his political beliefs in order to win

When could adapt be used to replace conform?

The meanings of adapt and conform largely overlap; however, adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances.

adapted themselves to the warmer climate

When would adjust be a good substitute for conform?

In some situations, the words adjust and conform are roughly equivalent. However, adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism.

adjusted the budget to allow for inflation

When might reconcile be a better fit than conform?

The synonyms reconcile and conform are sometimes interchangeable, but reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible.

tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

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 conform This includes emissions from elements that don't conform with what would be expected in a rotating gas cloud. Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 June 2026 For menstrual cups and discs, they're designed to be soft, flexible and conform to your body. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 8 June 2026 That dwarfed the offerings of Morocco, which had no existing stadiums that conformed to tournament specifications and would need to spend upwards of $15 billion to prepare for a World Cup. Kevin Baxter follow june 7, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 Only the third-ever executive producer of the long-running program, Owens shared that the secret to the show’s success was in its resistance to conforming. Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for conform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conform
Verb
  • In a corresponding move, the team placed swing tackle Storm Norton on the physically unable to perform list, which ended his season.
    Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 15 June 2026
  • The wins corresponded with European triumphs; the loss with a European setback.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • The Personal Blender includes two Tritan Renew blending cups and the ultra-durable Rapid Extractor Blade to make delicious smoothies and more.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 June 2026
  • Rock & Roll Denim is a contemporary Western brand that blends traditional cowboy style with a modern aesthetic based in Fort Worth.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Director Michiel Van Erp draws memorable performances from his cast while screenwriter Frank Houtappels’ wistful story reminds us of a bygone era and how reconciling with your past can sometimes be the hardest thing to do.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
  • The county elections office said Wednesday that roughly 4,000 ballots remained to be counted or reconciled countywide.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Britain has increasingly toughened its approach to tech companies in recent years, urging or forcing them to impose age verification, adapt their algorithms and, most recently, prevent children from circulating nude images taken on mobile phones.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
  • The needs of religious consumers were changing, and church leaders scrambled to adapt.
    Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • The timing of Gottfried’s removal coincided with Sierra’s replacement of Bruce Rubenstein, an attorney, from the Internal Audit Commission.
    Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
  • This tense family reunion coincides with the arrival of the vicious creatures that hunt through sound.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Lower fertility rates usually correlate to challenging economic times, and the Great Recession, when birth rates began dropping, was no exception.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 June 2026
  • During an incident, teams must manually correlate data across systems to determine which devices are affected, who owns them and what policies apply.
    Scott Fulton, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Most devices also come with the option to adjust color temperature.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026
  • Suárez sees her development continuing with the Mercury, along with adjusting to playing her rookie season in the WNBA.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • The bag is compact enough to fit under the seat in front of you on a plane, and can squish down easily to fit in odd spaces, like the Tetris-style trunk of a packed car.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026
  • Long term, Šmits projects as a top-pair left-shot defenseman, which would fit nicely with the Rangers, who already have Adam Fox on the right side.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 17 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conform. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on conform

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster