Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contemporaneous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporaneous are coeval, coincident, contemporary, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is coeval a more appropriate choice than contemporaneous?

While in some cases nearly identical to contemporaneous, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

When can coincident be used instead of contemporaneous?

In some situations, the words coincident and contemporaneous are roughly equivalent. However, coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

Where would contemporary be a reasonable alternative to contemporaneous?

Although the words contemporary and contemporaneous have much in common, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When is it sensible to use simultaneous instead of contemporaneous?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporaneous largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

When would synchronous be a good substitute for contemporaneous?

The words synchronous and contemporaneous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

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 contemporaneous Keep contemporaneous evidence of intent and commercial substance, monitor capitalization and third‑party borrowing alternatives, and assess the ripple effects of a possible reclassification on reporting obligations like Forms 5471, 8621, 8938 and FBAR. Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Doubling as an account of modern American conservatism (from media gadflies to six Supreme Court justices), the film is punctuated with contemporaneous footage that, viewed through the lens of Olin’s misdeeds, generates the tension and shock of a genre film. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025 But transparency cannot come at the expense of the very people whom the justice system is sworn to protect—particularly amid contemporaneous events that magnify risk and trauma. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025 The investigation team, which interviewed 78 witnesses and reviewed contemporaneous documents and unedited program footage, substantiated 45 of the allegations — just over half of those made. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for contemporaneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporaneous
Adjective
  • Mistakes, complaints and promotions The secretary issued several policy memos concurrent with his address aimed at overhauling the inspector general and equal opportunity complaint processes as part of his push to produce more Pattons.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The concurrent carriage deadlines for NBCUniversal and TelevisaUnivision are coincidence.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Williams also praised the chair for its slim profile, synchronous tilt, and adjustable lumbar support that make the seat suitable for long working hours.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Shift from synchronous to asynchronous communication.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For his last runway collection, unveiled in September, Michele constructed a parallel universe of side-by-side shows separated by a wall that when lifted revealed twins in identical looks in synchronic stride.
    Colleen Barry, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2022
  • With a lockable synchronic-tilt mechanism and special Z-Shape design, the Kaiser 2 can accommodate a weight up to 180kg, quite a bit more than normal mechanisms on office chairs and the back can be reclined to an angle of 160 degrees which can be locked when not in rocking mode.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
Adjective
  • Regional banks bounced a bit, still down a couple percent on the week, as Thursday’s flush lower amid a few separate but coincident credit hiccups exacerbated underlying unease with the opaque and possibly lax lending across private credit and among smaller commercial banks.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The coincident new Moon contributes no light pollution, making 2025 ideal for Orionid viewing.
    Big Think, Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This article is part of a wider series in partnership with Football Manager 26, which looks at the strengths and weaknesses of famous historical and contemporary tactics.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But while an excellent hook for contemporary stagings of the play, this kind of parallel has limitations.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Housing materials in artistic practice are fitting for an environment that is constantly under simultaneous construction and degradation, with sea levels continuing to rise, potholes throughout the city and as our own infrastructure buckles under the weight of an ever growing population.
    Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisers still crave the broad, simultaneous viewership such extravaganzas generate, and marketers that in the past might not have spent heavily on sports now see new reasons to do so.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That all of this began in Utah may not be entirely coincidental.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
  • This could manifest as a coincidental meeting that develops into a meaningful connection, or a creative idea that comes to mind during a conversation.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporaneous. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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