exception

noun

ik-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce exception (audio)
Definition of exceptionnext
1
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent I take strong exception to your assessment of his singing ability

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anomaly
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected her tardiness today is an exception; usually she's on time

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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 exception Yet the market has not reached a verdict, and Apple is the exception that proves the rule. — Amit Joshi, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 While most eagles go to the repository, there are rare exceptions. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 More often than not, wild cards do not fare particularly well in the main draws, though there are exceptions. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Finding more examples like GJ 523b could help reveal whether these unusual worlds are rare exceptions or part of a broader population. — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exception
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exception
  1. objection
  2. anomaly
  3. complaint
  4. rarity
  5. question
  6. abnormality
Noun
  • Nobody had raised objections, not because everyone agreed, but because nobody had been invited to express a different point of view.
    — Chiara Alzati, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Badger needed 17 yes votes from the County Board members to proceed because Homer Glen filed a legal objection to the plan.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of objection
Noun
  • The platform manages client dashboards, drafts performance reports, monitors data quality, flags anomalies, supports internal operations, and synthesizes context from meetings so leaders are not forced to sit in every room to stay informed.
    — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The technology is well suited to many complex and repeatable workflows that define the function, from monitoring regulatory changes and reviewing invoices to identifying anomalies and forecast variances.
    — Hugo Sarrazin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Hernandez piloted the boat into a swell and had accelerated the throttle to try to pass through it until the swell swamped the bow of the boat, capsizing it immediately, a complaint alleged.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Fourteen people were on board, including him — exceeding the vessel’s maximum capacity of 10 people — according to the complaint, which noted that Hernandez did not know the boat’s maximum capacity.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • Moritz Grossmann, which expects to produce only about 400 watches this year, is happy to remain a rarity seeker's brand.
    — Roberta Naas, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The arrangement between the Sheriff’s Office and fire-rescue is a rarity.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • Ask a clarifying question, keep your response simple, and save the deeper processing for a space that actually feels safe.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That’s the question Liberians are asking themselves after the first people to be deported to the West African country from the United States arrived in the capital, Monrovia.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of question
Noun
  • Scans often find abnormalities that require additional imaging or testing.
    — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Wilkinson’s four-seam fastball barely touches 90 mph, an abnormality in the age of velocity.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of abnormality

Phrases Containing exception

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excepting
exception
exceptionability
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Cite this Entry

“Exception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exception. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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