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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective familiar contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of familiar are common, ordinary, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

When would common be a good substitute for familiar?

The words common and familiar can be used in similar contexts, but common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

Where would ordinary be a reasonable alternative to familiar?

The words ordinary and familiar are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

When could plain be used to replace familiar?

While the synonyms plain and familiar are close in meaning, plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

When is popular a more appropriate choice than familiar?

In some situations, the words popular and familiar are roughly equivalent. However, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of familiar?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

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 familiar
Adjective
The only thing separating the Knicks from the NBA Finals is a familiar nemesis: the Indiana Pacers. James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 17 May 2025 Aah, the familiar smells of summer: The tropical, coconut-y scent of sunscreen and after-sun lotions. Sophia Panych, Allure, 17 May 2025
Noun
The girl is writing a letter to her brother, and the visitation, the Kid, the Thalidomide Kid, her frightful familiar, is taunting her. Joy Williams, Harper's Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022 Most recently, the actor played Count Dracula in this year's Renfield opposite Nicholas Hoult's titular familiar. Clark Collis, EW.com, 17 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for familiar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for familiar
Adjective
  • This time, the Knicks couldn’t get any closer, as the Celtics won 115-93 to cut their series deficit to two games to one.
    Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Charlotte and Raffi see these minor challenges—and their ability to work through them—as proof of how close all of the friends have become.
    Rhaina Cohen, The Atlantic, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • Broncos fans became acquainted with Perine in 2023 as the veteran running back who turned into a favorite third-down target and a two-minute weapon for Russell Wilson.
    Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Research potential employers and become acquainted with their primary products, financial and commercial performance, values and business activities.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • This is story about untangling the mysteries as to why something so ubiquitous – and seemingly endless – could be on the cusp of disappearing entirely.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
  • Beyond the fact that using AI tools to write is generally frowned upon and considered to be unethical, AI writing has become so ubiquitous that using AI or modeling one’s work off of it is a surefire way to make your materials blend into a sea of other cookie-cutter essays.
    Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • For example, when a man in his sixties talks about the same thing, he’s seen as calm and logical, but when a woman in her twenties talks about it, she’s seen as arrogant or trying to act mature.
    Billboard Japan, Billboard, 15 May 2025
  • By losing some of its arrogant charm, Doom has also lost the means to back it up.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • But Yang will clear up another SNL season 50 mystery that fans also spotted during a recent goodnights segment.
    Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 22 May 2025
  • Holland now hosts Survivor watch parties and other fan events with season 28 player Brice Izyah Johnston.
    Ale Russian, People.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Performing in front of small crowds that sometimes only consisted of family and friends was common for Owens but was balanced by hearing his music on local radio stations like 103.5 The Beat.
    Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025
  • Other photos in the post showcased The Kardashians star doing yoga in front of a sunset with friends Phil Riportella and Simon Huck.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Her testimony offered the jury context about how abuse can form and continue in intimate partner relationships, for jurors to compare the information to the circumstances being presented to them.
    Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 21 May 2025
  • Her mom has trouble with intimate relationships and is sort of like a boy crazy mom, and Taylor's the one that's seeing the manifestation of that, and essentially comforting her mother and trying to help her.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Figuring out what a machine-learning model is doing—being able to offer an explanation that draws specifically on the structure and contents of a formerly black box, rather than just making informed guesses on the basis of inputs and outputs—is known as the problem of interpretability.
    Jonathan L. Zittrain, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025
  • Enhanced Decision-Making Access to real-time data and analytics enables faster, more informed decisions.
    Gary Galstyan, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Familiar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/familiar. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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