contemporary 1 of 2

contemporary

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noun

as in companion
a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were exact contemporaries, actually being born on the same day in 1809

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contemporary differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporary are coeval, coincident, contemporaneous, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When is coeval a more appropriate choice than contemporary?

In some situations, the words coeval and contemporary are roughly equivalent. However, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

When could coincident be used to replace contemporary?

The words coincident and contemporary can be used in similar contexts, but 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

In what contexts can contemporaneous take the place of contemporary?

While the synonyms contemporaneous and contemporary are close in meaning, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is it sensible to use simultaneous instead of contemporary?

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

the two shots were simultaneous

Where would synchronous be a reasonable alternative to contemporary?

The synonyms synchronous and contemporary are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 contemporary
Adjective
The interior decor combines a neutral palette, modern art, and upscale furniture, creating a chic, contemporary feel throughout. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025 Modern and contemporary practices began emerging in the 1950s and 1960s. Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Like his contemporaries, Meyers often pokes fun at the ongoing actions of the president and his administration on Late Night. Emlyn Travis Updated, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2025 While contemporaries such as Nella Larsen and Zora Neale Hurston have become fixtures in conversations about the Harlem Renaissance, Fauset often gets left in the margins, despite being one of the era’s most influential figures. Glory Edim august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contemporary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporary
Adjective
  • Missouri would be the only state in the country with such a requirement, called a concurrent majority, according to a review of state ballot measure rules compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Silksong just passed up yesterday’s 562,000 concurrent Steam playercount record, a stunning number for a $20 indie game, though obviously boosted by its mythological status after seven years of waiting from fans.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Information operations and psychological warfare are a key component of modern war — and arguably nowhere is this truer than in the Israel-Islamist conflict.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Watch a modern student tackle an assignment.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Team-mates Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo and Mohammed Kudus, who joined rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £55m, were close companions during Summerville’s rehab.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The outdoor competition, which is organized by World Athletics, is often seen as a companion event to the Olympics, bringing together the very best track and field athletes in the world.
    Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 7 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
  • That new equalized funding formula went into effect after a three-year transition period in 2024, when 44 groups each got $9,269, according to the three-year awards report.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Swiss transportation company Twiliner is kicking off a new night bus service later this year that will be more akin to a business class airline seat than your typical bus.
    Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The song, which begins with the soft sound of an acoustic guitar, transforms into an orchestral accompaniment with string arrangements by Roberto Verástegui.
    Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Many of us who are raised on or reformed by incomparable low-and-slow Southern pork barbecue appreciate cabbage slaw as a classic accompaniment, whether spooned onto our plate (AKA our tray) or inside a sandwich bun.
    Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Shift from synchronous to asynchronous communication.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Our love for independence and self-reliance cannot help but be synchronous with loneliness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer reports that jobs requiring AI skills pay an average of 56% more than their non-AI counterparts, and that the skill sets demanded in these roles are evolving 66% faster than in traditional jobs.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • To break those down, The Athletic convened the following discussion between Dodgers beat writer Fabian Ardaya and his Padres counterpart, Dennis Lin.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contemporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporary. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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