as in mainland
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division
Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in temperate
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 continent
Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Scientific talent, industrial strength, and sectorial breadth The old continent remains one of the world’s strongest regions in science, engineering, and industrial depth.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Schneider reflects on Game 5 ‘what-ifs’ A cross-continent flight and 21 hours later, Schneider stepped in front of reporters.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for continent
Noun
Originally introduced from the African continent for erosion control and as livestock forage, now this species is imperiling Arizona’s beloved saguaro cactuses, palo verde and summer wildflowers, transforming swaths of the Sonoran Desert into a grassland monoculture.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Scientific talent, industrial strength, and sectorial breadth The old continent remains one of the world’s strongest regions in science, engineering, and industrial depth.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The 121st World Series will head back cross-continent for at least a Game 6 at the end of the week in Toronto’s Rogers Centre.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Schneider reflects on Game 5 ‘what-ifs’ A cross-continent flight and 21 hours later, Schneider stepped in front of reporters.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for continent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continent
Noun
-
Courts on the Chinese mainland have indicated that a work is copyrightable if the output reflects the prompt writer’s intellectual effort.—
Marcus Lim,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
For example, to understand how Andean cosmology shapes the night sky, how ranching traditions persist in remote Patagonian valleys, or why the culture of Chiloé feels distinct from the mainland.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Based on these parameters, scientists estimate the planet’s equilibrium temperature to be around 368 K, placing it in a relatively warm but still temperate range for rocky exoplanets.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The species is commonly found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, but federal officials say its range has expanded in recent years to places including the east and south coasts of Australia, waters off South Africa and the Texas Gulf Coast.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Housed in a bulletproof case, the delicate bones reveal the saint’s ascetic life while strict security protects relics from historical theft.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Later in life Foucault will become more ascetic, but not yet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lunchtimes are more abstemious with avocado and tuna packed poke bowls and watermelon salad at the W lounge.—
Jemima Sissons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
His first term now looks practically abstemious.—
Erin Neil,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
At the end of six months, those who had taken just one dose of psilocybin had more than six times greater odds of being abstinent from cigarettes than their counterparts who relied on the nicotine substitute.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Some people want to remain abstinent to focus on their own personal growth, while others have resorted to it after becoming frustrated with today's dating culture.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continent. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
