Definition of conformnext
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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 Bishops and priests often challenged texts that did not conform with what became orthodox doctrine. Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026 The Independent Spirits These leads paved their own way with wit, charm, and a refusal to conform. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 19 Feb. 2026 Exile is a state of being barred from a homeland—of being forced to live in a foreign world as punishment for not conforming. Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026 Sharpe said traditionally French cuisine has been looked at as the standard, and chefs have conformed to fit that standard. Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conform
Verb
  • Futures on China’s 30-year and 10-year bonds dropped the most since late December on Monday, while corresponding cash yields climbed.
    Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Just like with trees, it was thought that each ring corresponded to a single year of age.
    Regina G. Barber, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The annual march, which winds 3 miles through the city’s picturesque historic district, draws tens of thousands of revelers and blends the best parts of a family reunion and football tailgate.
    Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Spring 2026 is leaning into maintenance color trends, from rooty blondes to ‘quiet silver’ gray-blending techniques.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But DuBois has written a usefully ambivalent book, one that looks for a way to reconcile younger writers’ criticisms of Stanton with her own loyalty to the early women’s-rights activists.
    Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The longtime couple ultimately reconciled before tying the knot in April 2011.
    Emma Banks, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Some questions may be adapted into full columns, and transcripts of the chats remain available after each session concludes.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The research also explores how robots apply machine learning to adapt to constantly changing surroundings.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The festival usually coincides with St Patrick’s Day — although not this year — and has become a showcase for Irish racing.
    Ian King, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The lawmakers also reference the particular focus on this year’s parade, where the route has been reversed to mark America’s 250th birthday and coincide with the historic route that was used during the British evacuation of Boston.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Not being able to focus correlates with a lower ability to recall information, according to a 2020 study conducted by Stanford University researchers.
    Renée Onque, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Rotator cuff injuries can be complicated and the symptoms don’t always correlate to the extent of the damage, Mazzocca said.
    NBC news, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • On Thursday, the Senate passed a broad bipartisan bill on housing, which seeks to adjust policies to increase construction and limit institutional ownership of home development.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Acting in a movie involves a lot of waiting around, too—as the crew repositions cameras and adjusts the lighting, among other things—and those lulls provided me with plenty of time to feel queasy with anxiety.
    Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The initial goal was a single-family home that could fit a family of four (plus a dog), and was within walking distance of the school.
    Carisa Crawford Chappell, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The man at the gun shop looked at Martinez, a small woman with round eyes and rosy cheeks, and recommended the pistol, which fit nicely in her hands.
    Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Conform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conform. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

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