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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
Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, is known for his contemporary and alternative style of hip-hop. Deon J. Hampton, NBC news, 22 May 2025 Classic Side Chairs Everyone appreciates a good combination of vintage and modern, so why not style some of your grandmother's classic side chairs along with a set of more contemporary host and hostess chairs? Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
Noun
Lippmann was a contemporary of Freud, whose nascent insights in psychology informed Lippmann’s theories of politics. Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025 In particular, he was reminded of his father, who would’ve been a contemporary of Don and shared many similar qualities. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contemporary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporary
Adjective
  • Njuguna received a sentence of 5 to 7 years in state prison for the involuntary manslaughter conviction, with lesser concurrent sentences on the remaining convictions.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
  • Alternative listing strategies—such as concurrent private placements or dual-track processes—may become more prevalent.
    Joseph Lucosky, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • His visit is a divergence from the tradition among modern U.S. presidents to visit Mexico or Canada during their first foreign trip, which comes after his administration levied tariffs against the neighboring nations early in his term.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The passenger's story is a case of plane etiquette justice that can feel rare in modern air travel.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Regardless, companies like The Image have a vision for what the next chapter of AI could look like—AI assistants that are more than tools, but proactive digital companions.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Republic Records, Manic Phase Productions, Live Nation and CAA were all involved in the visual companion to the pop star’s most recent studio album of the same name, which Tesfaye added to his repertoire for his ongoing After Hours Til Dawn global tour.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • The series invites young adventurers to explore the joys and challenges of moving to new places, meeting new people, discovering different cultures and building lasting friendships.
    Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • The webcast is available on its website and on social media platform X. Coverage will also be available on SpaceX's new X TV app.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • With a world premiere at Tribeca in June, the visual accompaniment is a one-of-a-kind pop opera featuring 13 original new songs from the Something Beautiful album.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 May 2025
  • As were the accompaniments: beans, rice, escabeche yucca and the coldest Medalla beer maybe ever recorded.
    Chloe Sorvino, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The key lies in a fast oscillating sheet known as a diffuser, onto which synchronous images are projected at high speed (2,880 images per second) and at different heights; human persistence of vision ensures that these images are perceived as true 3D objects.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Students engage in 3–4 hours of daily synchronous classes, including discussions of classic and contemporary texts, writing workshops to hone analytical essays, and adaptive STEM programs like Beast Academy.
    Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Congress, the Executive Branch, and civil society must all play an active role in deepening engagement with their Taiwan counterparts.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
  • The union says its members want parity with their counterparts who work for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
    Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contemporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporary. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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