Synonyms of contemporary

contemporary 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē 

1

as in concurrent

existing or occurring at the same period of time

the absurd notion that early cave dwellers were contemporary with the dinosaurs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• concurrent
• synchronic
• synchronous
• contemporaneous
• coincident
• coincidental
• simultaneous
• coeval
• coterminous
• coetaneous
• accompanying
• coextensive
• incident
• coexistent
• concomitant
• coexisting
• attending
• attendant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• asynchronous
• nonsynchronous
• nonsimultaneous
• noncontemporary

2

as in modern

being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles

a magazine devoted to contemporary fashions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• modern
• new
• current
• stylish
• fashionable
• designer
• modernistic
• present-day
• modernized
• latest
• ultramodern
• futuristic
• up-to-date
• state-of-the-art
• new age
• newfangled
• hot
• red-hot
• up-to-the-minute
• mod
• new-fashioned
• recent
• space-age
• updated
• modish
• in
• nouvelle
• now
• happening
• last
• high-tech
• latter-day

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• archaic
• old-time
• ancient
• antiquated
• historical
• old-fashioned
• old
• anachronistic
• out-of-date
• past
• historic
• dated
• former
• fusty
• musty
• antediluvian
• venerable
• hoary
• antique
• bygone
• aged
• age-old
• late
• olden
• retro
• outmoded
• obsolete
• passé
• old-world
• retrograde
• oldfangled
• outworn
• timeless
• discarded
• remote
• disused
• forgotten
• ageless
• unmodernized
• moth-eaten
• kaput
• dateless

contemporary

2 of 2

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

• companion
• accompaniment
• counterpart
• coeval
• equivalent
• equal
• concomitant
• rival
• coordinate
• match
• peer

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

Recent Examples of contemporary

Adjective

Next up was a multiple-owner sale with 45 lots by modern and contemporary artists. — News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026

But just being able to go to Bastian’s world and the world of Fantastica and developing that out for a contemporary audience in a four quadrant way has been a lot of my focus and been a lot of fun. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

What did Percherette think of her fictional contemporaries, those who lived in the Austen novels, dreaming of love? — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026

Marlon Brando Clift and Brando were both contemporaries and, at times, acting rivals. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026