as in books
a reference work that contains information about many different subjects or a lot of information about a particular subject
The school library's encyclopedia occupied much of the bookshelf. an encyclopedia of literature
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Recent Examples of encyclopedias
Google didn’t have to persuade people that typing a question into a search bar was better than navigating directories or flipping through encyclopedias.
—
Ira Belsky, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Beginning in 1959, editors put in arduous work toward compiling the first encyclopedias written in Braille, the innovative code developed by Louis Braille in 19th century France.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Dec. 2025
Instead, the eight search results ranged from a general entry about online encyclopedias to seven entries primarily about Wikipedia.
—NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Outdated sets of children’s encyclopedias that speak in the Voice of Empire.
—Teddy Wayne
september 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Over the years, the team at Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane, has seen all types of books come through its doors ahead of the sale — children's books, novels, encyclopedias, self-help books and more.
—Lillian Metzmeier, The Courier-Journal, 18 Aug. 2025
Ira Belsky, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Beginning in 1959, editors put in arduous work toward compiling the first encyclopedias written in Braille, the innovative code developed by Louis Braille in 19th century France.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Dec. 2025
Instead, the eight search results ranged from a general entry about online encyclopedias to seven entries primarily about Wikipedia.
—NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Outdated sets of children’s encyclopedias that speak in the Voice of Empire.
—Teddy Wayne
september 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Over the years, the team at Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane, has seen all types of books come through its doors ahead of the sale — children's books, novels, encyclopedias, self-help books and more.
—Lillian Metzmeier, The Courier-Journal, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclopedias
Noun
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Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
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Throughout the day, the museum shop highlights books and materials connected to Opal Lee’s life and work, adding another layer to the celebration.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Virginia’s Supreme Court majority sought an answer in dictionaries, which define the word as the act or process of choosing.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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The club supplies 1,000 dictionaries each year for third graders at 10 Darien schools, as well as supports leadership training for high school students, NAMI DuPage, Humanitarian Service Project food for senior citizens in Darien, recycling events and environmental grants.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Look in seed catalogs and on seed packets for downy mildew resistance.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
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HarbourView’s entertainment investments to date have focused on film, TV and music catalogs, including those of Kelly Clarkson, George Benson, Luis Fonsi, Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Nelly, Wiz Khalifa, and others.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encyclopedias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclopedias. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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