Try This Instead

For
Try This
a continuous flow
a continual flow
a constant flow
a consistent flow
a perpetual flow
a steady flow
continuous monitoring
continual monitoring
constant monitoring
persistent monitoring
steady monitoring
uninterrupted monitoring
a continuous operation
an uninterrupted operation
a sustained operation
a steady operation
a nonstop operation
a constant operation
a continuous period
an uninterrupted period
a sustained period
an ongoing period
a continued period
a persistent period

Synonym Chooser

How is the word continuous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of continuous are constant, continual, incessant, perennial, and perpetual. While all these words mean "characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence," continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

In what contexts can constant take the place of continuous?

The words constant and continuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

When would continual be a good substitute for continuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to continuous, continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

When could incessant be used to replace continuous?

While the synonyms incessant and continuous are close in meaning, incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

When is perennial a more appropriate choice than continuous?

The meanings of perennial and continuous largely overlap; however, perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

When might perpetual be a better fit than continuous?

In some situations, the words perpetual and continuous are roughly equivalent. However, perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

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 continuous Maximum Watts Per Circuit Majano says an entire circuit can handle a continuous load between 1,440 and 1,920 watts, depending on its amps. Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025 The mission highlights the continuing international cooperation aboard the ISS, which has maintained continuous human presence for over two decades. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025 Tribal dancers stomp and sway alongside breakdancers, all in one continuous shot that becomes an anachronistic continuum of Black musical expression across the ages. A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025 By fostering a culture of continuous learning, leveraging emerging talent and focusing on transferable skills, organizations can stay competitive and effectively bridge the skills gap in their IT departments. Brad Smith, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for continuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continuous
Adjective
  • Short wars are fought with whatever resources are available at the time; long wars require the development of capabilities that are geared to changing operational imperatives, as demonstrated by the continual transformation of drone warfare in Ukraine.
    Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
  • With continual breaking headlines about romance scams and serial catfishers, people are becoming more cautious online, calling for better security and authenticity guardrails.
    Quora, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Eyal’s optimism is backed by checks by his firm that indicated continued strength in demand, with CYBR’s effort to expand its platform away from its core privileged access management gaining traction among customers.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
  • But legal experts say the Administration’s continued refusal to comply fully with the courts suggests a broader erosion of constitutional norms.
    Nik Popli, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Officials said overnight enforcement will focus on common and continuing offenses such as commercial vehicles parked in residential areas and permit violations.
    Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 6 Mar. 2025
  • State of the labor market Initial weekly unemployment insurance claims have held in a fairly steady range around 220,000, though continuing claims earlier in November had hit their highest level in about three years.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • At 22 years old, the popular Twitch streamer is tapped into the next generation of listeners, who engage with new music via nonstop feeds of clips and snippets.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The first quarter saw the company’s largest drop in sales after virtually nonstop double-digit sales growth.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In the air, those pings can interfere with cockpit radios, creating an incessant buzzing sound in pilots’ headsets—like a mosquito in your ear.
    Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Shoulder pads are in for fall 2025 and so are other details that read unabashedly, authentically bold instead of being chained to the incessant trend cycle.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • To do so requires combining innovation with reliability to ensure uninterrupted power for industries, households and critical infrastructure—to grow the economy while progressing our climate goals.
    Javier Cavada, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Particularly striking are the chrome radiator grille with three horizontal illuminated glass louvres up front and the uninterrupted taillight that runs along the edge of the back panel.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Continuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continuous. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on continuous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!