CONTIGUOUS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

contiguous

adjective

kən-ˈti-gyə-wəs

Definition of contiguous next

as in adjacent

having a border in common Connecticut and Massachusetts are contiguous states

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Schuur remains in custody at the Lincoln County Jail in Canton on a $100,000 cash bond with conditions limiting travel to contiguous states. —

Vanessa Carlson Bender, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Feb. 2026 During the hearing, neighbors disputed the eligibility of the land for annexation based on its distance from Castle Pines, saying the parcel does not meet a state requirement that at least one-sixth of the perimeter of a property must be contiguous with existing municipal boundaries to be annexed. —

Olivia Young, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026 Borrero’s amendment defines large destination resorts as those with at least five contiguous acres, 500 rooms or more and an average occupancy rate of at least 70% in the past three years. —

Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026 The emergency declaration covers Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties, as well as contiguous areas. —

Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contiguous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contiguous

Adjective

Gold mutual funds Few 401(k) plans allow investors to purchase actual gold, Investopedia says, but gold-adjacent mutual funds abound.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
Last year, the city took over the project, spending $3 million to acquire the nightclub property and an adjacent lot, and funding the design and construction of the memorial.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026