Definition of contiguousnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word contiguous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of contiguous are adjacent, adjoining, and juxtaposed. While all these words mean "being in close proximity," contiguous implies having contact on all or most of one side.

offices in all 48 contiguous states

When might adjacent be a better fit than contiguous?

While in some cases nearly identical to contiguous, adjacent may or may not imply contact but always implies absence of anything of the same kind in between.

a house with an adjacent garage

When can adjoining be used instead of contiguous?

While the synonyms adjoining and contiguous are close in meaning, adjoining definitely implies meeting and touching at some point or line.

had adjoining rooms at the hotel

When would juxtaposed be a good substitute for contiguous?

The words juxtaposed and contiguous can be used in similar contexts, but juxtaposed means placed side by side especially so as to permit comparison and contrast.

a skyscraper juxtaposed to a church

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 contiguous Alaska is the 49th State, but most cruises to Alaska from the contiguous United States require a passport. Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026 Bath & Body Works offers $8 flat rate standard shipping on orders exceeding $10 for contiguous United States and APO/FPO destinations. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 5 Aug. 2026 To explain its results, RealorRender identifies the suspicious regions of images as heatmaps (grids of colored squares indicating intensity, as with topographical maps) and segments of contiguous image elements. New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026 In exchange, the company hands over 683 acres (276 hectares) of its territory in the area, not all of it contiguous, to the USFWS. Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for contiguous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contiguous
Adjective
  • In doing so, Coleman emphasized a ruling from 1938 in favor of the Pittsburgh Pirates against a radio station that placed observers on the rooftop of a building adjacent to Forbes Field to watch the game for a broadcast without paying the Pirates.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Judge Alsup's opinion on training as fair use has not been tested on appeal, and other judges have reached different conclusions on adjacent facts.
    TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In neighboring Hammond, Angel Navarro is among thousands still without power.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Construction workers clung to a malfunctioning crane Friday as its arm collapsed onto the pool deck of a neighboring luxury high-rise in Miami, video shot by a bystander showed.
    James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • James Harb Architects carried out the renovations where hardwood flooring flows throughout the sprawling, open-plan living spaces, including the living room and, two steps up, the adjoining library.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
  • An outdoor terrace is accessible only by passing through one of two adjoining bathrooms.
    Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Contiguous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contiguous. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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