Synonym Chooser

How is the word episode distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of episode are circumstance, event, incident, and occurrence. While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

When might circumstance be a better fit than episode?

The words circumstance and episode can be used in similar contexts, but circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

When can event be used instead of episode?

The meanings of event and episode largely overlap; however, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

When could incident be used to replace episode?

The words incident and episode are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

Where would occurrence be a reasonable alternative to episode?

While in some cases nearly identical to episode, occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

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 episode The first two episodes of Smoke are now streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025 Read More: Why Some Men Keep Their Prostate Cancer a Secret Cut to the latest episode, and Harry has been diagnosed with prostate cancer based on those symptoms. Angela Haupt, Time, 27 June 2025 Seeing that expansion and contraction over and over for six episodes (let alone three seasons) can grow tiring, and Season 3 certainly suffers from a sense of exhaustion. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 June 2025 Friday’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 (Paramount+) marks the end of Bracket 3, and TVLine has your exclusive first look (below) as the bottom queens attempt to give out their points without causing too much drama. Andy Swift, TVLine, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for episode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for episode
Noun
  • This sequence of events prompted many fans and pundits to speculate about potential conspiracy theories about how and why Dallas got the pick despite having such low odds for it.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
  • Tickets for the event are still being listed for sale online, ranging from $59 to $150.
    Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Qantas Airlines, Australia’s flagship carrier, reported Wednesday that a cyber incident had occurred Monday in one of its contact centers that exposed data for as many as 6 million customers.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • All the incidents became the talk of the sports world for a few days.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The downside is that each method has a potential reaction from the AGI or ASI that could turn things ugly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Meanwhile…things haven’t looked so good for Starbucks in China recently, and not just because its baristas can’t spell names in Chinese characters, either.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • The circumstances varied, from hikers bringing their furry friends on multi-day backpacking trips to taking them up 14,000-foot peaks, but in every case, sheer exhaustion was the primary cause.
    Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 1 July 2025
  • But my contract got particular traction, maybe because of the circumstances.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Episode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/episode. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on episode

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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