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 The city banned data centers near transit and the Beltline, but this one is trying to get an exception. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 There are certain penalty exceptions, such as for distributions for higher education expenses. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 15 July 2026 The exception here is when retinol is combined with hyaluronic acid. — Amber Sayer, Health, 15 July 2026 With Perfetti signed, Winnipeg’s offseason work is nearly complete — albeit with one notable exception. — Murat Ates, New York Times, 15 July 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
  • The people who did it anyway The objection says courage doesn't survive the incentives.
    — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • In one case, the panel concluded Martinez improperly allowed two high school students to sit with him on the bench during a hearing despite an objection from one of the parties.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of objection
Noun
  • Whether that’s a single-stock anomaly or a signal that the market has quietly repriced its tolerance for earnings disappointment across the sector is the question the rest of earnings season will start to answer.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • Yet its success feels less like an anomaly than a symptom of the present, in which perpetual crisis has robbed the future of coherence.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • Now a union spokesperson says employees might file a complaint with a state board intended to protect public employees.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • Last year, lawmakers passed a law shielding the Concord speedway and other racetracks from noise and other nuisance complaints.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • That was true from the early stages — when the standings bore greater resemblance to 2024 than 2025, a rarity compared with most of baseball history.
    — Neil Paine, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • That rarity matters because earnings bubbles carry a detection problem that valuation bubbles don’t.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • Their absence from the London leg of the trip now raises questions about whether a family reunion will happen during the visit.
    — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • The questions Mozeliak asks and answers now are the same ones Kasten did with the Dodgers.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of question
Noun
  • That can lead to abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels that later result in a tear or dissection in the aorta.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 15 July 2026
  • The testing may identify certain abnormalities before symptoms emerge.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 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 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on exception

Nglish: Translation of exception for Spanish Speakers

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