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 Related Stories InCheck reports summarize how a factory’s chemical inventory conforms to ZDHC’s Manufacturing Restricted Substances List, or MRSL. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 Furthermore, many conventional devices use brittle, rigid materials that cannot easily stretch or conform to irregular surfaces, limiting their suitability for soft robotics and seamless biological integration. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 These bog bodies tell stories of a time when humans were sacrificed to the gods in bogs, as otherworldly margins between the human and divine realms, or when social outcasts met a cruel, violent end for failing to conform to societal standards. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 State consequences may diverge because some states conform to federal tax rules and others do not. — Carolyn Schenck, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conform
Verb
  • In particular, the work showed that the Roger-Ramanujan identities correspond to a trefoil knot in a certain space.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In a corresponding move, the Panthers promoted outside linebacker Nick Hampton off the practice squad.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • From the in-room Alice in Wonderland–themed teacups to the residence’s private library, each whimsical element offers guests a sense of imaginative comfort blended with timeless sophistication.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • After a handful of supremely mellow releases that blended lurching ’90s breakbeats with wintry, Mazzy Star-like songwriting, their third album dives into a vat of mercurial distortion and slippery, all-consuming bass.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Lula has struggled to reconcile his party’s traditional positions with demands for tougher action.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The two versions of Israel that could result are so divergent as to seem impossible to reconcile.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Leaders also need to ask whether their systems are becoming easier to understand, control and adapt.
    — Chandini Sheeba, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The company’s theater work began with The Lunchbox Musical, written by Batra and adapted from his 2013 film.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That coincides with Chinese research ships spending an extraordinary amount of time apparently surveying undersea cables—not to mention Chinese commercial ships being investigated for cutting cables in both European and Asian waters.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Vanessa DiBernardo’s return to the field coincided with the Kansas City Current’s boost in form in 2026.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Kwan’s push to expand the family office’s geographical footprint correlates with global wealth flows, as HNWIs worldwide look to diversify their assets across different geographies.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • That signal can be aggregated, correlated, and exploited by hostile foreign intelligence services to anticipate our movements, targets, and timing.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • By adjusting the distance between the tips, the team could stretch or compress the molecular structure, changing the voltage at which the current enhancement began.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Hackett said adjusting investments to reflect personal financial goals, changes in risk tolerance, or shifting income needs are good reasons to make changes.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Engineers must fit every component within that envelope, limiting the size of equipment such as antennas and power systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Riel Karmy-Jones, the prosecution barrister, accused Brand of retrofitting his definitions to fit his evidence.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conform. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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