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
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Last year, the value of public companies based in the area was $23 trillion—greater than the GDPs of the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and the entire continent of Africa combined.
—Theo Baker, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 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
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote unveiled plans to build a crude oil refinery in Tanzania that would replicate the output of his giant plant in Lagos to leverage continent-wide calls for greater self-sufficiency after the Iran war exposed Africa’s vulnerabilities.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Last year, the value of public companies based in the area was $23 trillion—greater than the GDPs of the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and the entire continent of Africa combined.
—Theo Baker, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 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
-
This is bad news for the river that sustains mainland Southeast Asia.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Getting there Reaching Culebra requires a ferry, small flight, or private sailing charter from mainland Puerto Rico.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In November or December, that is likely to change, as temperatures drop up north while the climate remains temperate here, and surf swells get notably more ridable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The controversy stems from the fact that Mars seems to have had temperate climate periods with rain that deeply altered the rocks, as well as widespread rivers and lakes that persisted for potentially millions of years.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The overall aesthetic was slightly ascetic without being spartan—a pale, neutral color palette; simple, modern furniture; a few pieces of abstract art.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The first follows the Rajput king Ratansen of Chitor (a fortress in what is now Chittorgarh, Rajasthan), who renounces his throne and travels as a yogi (wandering ascetic) to the island kingdom of Simhal to win the legendary Padmavati.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
