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 Not many people realize it, but the 13,000-mile-long wall is not, in fact, one contiguous structure but many segments built over several dynasties — from the Qin to the Qing — spanning about 2,000 years. —

Erin Tan, NBC news, 13 May 2026 Both Israeli leaders and critics of settlements say the E1 plan would complicate efforts to establish a contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank. —

Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Hunting is currently allowed across about 51 million National Park Service acres spanning 76 sites, although only about 8 million of those acres lie in the contiguous United States with the rest in Alaska, according to the NPS website. —

Todd Richmond, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026 But that’s exactly what attracts large-scale data center projects, which require high-voltage transmission lines, as well as hundreds of contiguous acres—something rarely available in urban or industrial sites. —

Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for contiguous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contiguous

Adjective

Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, popular Southern California theme parks which are in areas adjacent to the evacuation sites, are open early Saturday but officials are monitoring the situation.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Talk to people working in adjacent functions or industries.

— Juliette Han, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026