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 Wrote, directed, and acted in Guffman holds the honor of being the point at which contemporaneous audiences first experienced a real, unadulterated Christopher Guest movie. Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 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
  • Three years after winning the show in 2008, he was sentenced to four years in prison on a drug trafficking charge and a concurrent term of one year for failure to pay income taxes on his $500,000 Big Brother winnings, according to the United States Attorney's Office in Massachusetts.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The concurrent efforts in testing, sustainment preparation and infrastructure investments clearly illustrate our commitment to providing unmatched capabilities to deter and defeat threats well into the future.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 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
  • The timing of these changes were roughly coincident with clarification of Information Blocking rules and Epic’s introduction of its own competing product.
    Seth Joseph, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
  • The tendency of policymakers to date has been to view the harms from internet platforms not as systemic, but as a series of coincident issues.
    Roger McNamee, Wired, 24 July 2021
Adjective
  • Modern interpretations of inns layer rustic charm with contemporary finishes.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While rooted in historical detail, Merrill and Farnham’s design ultimately merges tradition with the rhythms of contemporary life.
    Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Beauty’s $1 billion acquisition this spring, underscoring Bieber’s simultaneous impact in beauty and fashion.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
  • To be fair to the group, the protest was at an early call time that was thrown together rather late; plus, Fabian said, some of his other activists were taking part in simultaneous protests targeting the government shutdown.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Though the timing was coincidental, the central bank district in September unveiled its own dashboard of data measuring key labor market metrics including unemployment, the hiring rate and the layoff rate.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The European Ryder Cup advantage is not coincidental or accidental.
    Hugh Kellenberger, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporaneous. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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