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as in to hold
to have within the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to compose
to gain emotional or mental control of could hardly contain herself when she heard that she had won the scholarship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word contain different from other verbs like it?

The words accommodate and hold are common synonyms of contain. While all three words mean "to have or be capable of having within," contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something.

the can contains a quart of oil

Where would accommodate be a reasonable alternative to contain?

The meanings of accommodate and contain largely overlap; however, accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

When is it sensible to use hold instead of contain?

While in some cases nearly identical to contain, hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.

the bookcase will hold all my textbooks

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 contain However, coconut oil is 100% fat, and each gram contains nine calories. Health, 14 May 2025 The following contains major spoilers for all of Andor! Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Indeed, data from NASA's Lunar Prospector mission revealed the lunar nearside contains up to 10 times more thorium than lunar farside. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 14 May 2025 Wildfire smoke contains very dangerous, tiny pollutants called PM2.5 that can travel deep into the lungs or enter the bloodstream when inhaled. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for contain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contain
Verb
  • The result is partial solutions that rarely hold under pressure.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Particularly in less densely populated parts of America, plenty of government officials and citizens still hold a grudge over the way businesses and schools were temporarily shut down.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include: On Waterman Court, Danville, in February 2025, a 2,251-square-foot home was sold for $1,990,000, a price per square foot of $884.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 14 May 2025
  • For no ads on those two streamers, the plan costs $44.99 per month (ads will be included on any tier of the ESPN. app).
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Featuring around 320 extras, each episode was filmed in a four-week block that mostly comprised technical practices and rehearsals.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 May 2025
  • The company comprises two businesses, The Poke House and No Man's Land Miami LLC, according to the outlet.
    Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Forethought underpins the crucial balance between execution speed and staying composed and under control.
    Ryan Lahti, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • Metal benches are also lighter than benches composed solely of wood.
    Megan Newton, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • This is especially true in the current context where most countries are more focused on accelerating technology's capabilities than efforts to regulate it meaningfully and create societal guardrails.
    Yoshua Bengio, Time, 9 May 2025
  • Serotonin plays a crucial role in regulating mood and sleep patterns.
    Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • The Oilers were built to win, and the right-wing depth chart boasted several veterans (Zach Hyman, Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown and Corey Perry) who were guaranteed roster spots and playing time.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 18 May 2025
  • Pendergast didn’t boast of his boss status but didn’t shy away from the label.
    Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 19 May 2025
  • Perryman was also the former general counsel for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and was involved in litigation requiring the FDA to allow mifepristone to be sent to patients in the mail.
    Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Tensions have calmed a bit in recent years, barring occasional clashes along the border areas, Ganyard said.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 May 2025
  • This may include guiding someone who is blind; pulling a wheelchair; calming a person during an anxiety attack; or reminding them to take medication.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contain. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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