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
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 June 2026
Soccer fans in America and Algeria, the largest nation on the African continent, have been astounded that such global stars as Ibrahim Maza and Riyad Mahrez are settling into Kansas life.
—Pj Green
june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
There are other tectonic settings on Earth where continents rift apart and eventually form new oceans — such as the East African Rift, which is in the process of splitting into two tectonic plates — but the San Andreas system is not one of them.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Most 747 routes spanned oceans and continents, giving travelers a speedier option than the Queen Mary had across the Atlantic, or the California Zephyr across the West.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for continent
Noun
Across almost the entire continent, a huge chunk of the sun will appear eclipsed.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 June 2026
Soccer fans in America and Algeria, the largest nation on the African continent, have been astounded that such global stars as Ibrahim Maza and Riyad Mahrez are settling into Kansas life.
—Pj Green
june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
There are other tectonic settings on Earth where continents rift apart and eventually form new oceans — such as the East African Rift, which is in the process of splitting into two tectonic plates — but the San Andreas system is not one of them.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Most 747 routes spanned oceans and continents, giving travelers a speedier option than the Queen Mary had across the Atlantic, or the California Zephyr across the West.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for continent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continent
Noun
-
The Na Pali Coast rises in steep green cliffs, Waimea Canyon cuts deep in rust‑red layers, and the island’s small towns move at a pace that feels decades slower than the mainland.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
-
The remarks come as Beijing has intensified scrutiny of capital markets this year, including a regulatory crackdown on cross-border stock trading by mainland investors, and reflect growing concern that the AI rally sweeping Chinese equities has created openings for market abuse.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
These grasses thrive in cooler climates, though some can be found in the Southern states (especially in the temperate Upper South), including the following species.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
-
Those in temperate regions can keep it in a pot that's brought indoors for winter.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Once inside, warm, tropical breezes flow into the hotel’s ascetic, nevertheless grand lobby, wafting you towards a magical cloister filled with plants and robust Botero sculptures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
-
Grothendieck was intense and ascetic from his early days.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 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
-
Like Ash Wednesday, Good Friday is a day where Catholics are obliged to fast and stay abstinent throughout the day until midnight.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continent. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
