familiar 1 of 2

1
2
3
4

familiar

2 of 2

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
Pritzker and Emanuel are nationally familiar names. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025 For nearly two decades, the NBA postseason was defined by familiar names: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Okla Jones, Essence, 23 June 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
  • The championship is Oklahoma City’s first since relocating from Seattle in 2008; for the Pacers, close wasn’t good enough for their second straight season with a strong playoff run before falling to the eventual NBA champs.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 28 June 2025
  • The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • The success of those songs thrust me into the mainstream and acquainted audiences with my face and sound.
    Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2025
  • An up-and-coming leader can keep the interactions casual with a handshake, an introduction and an invitation to get more acquainted outside of the event.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond these ubiquitous technologies, the quieter rise of connected devices unfolded.
    Thomas Ryd, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Though the United States' EV adoption process may be sluggish compared to other countries, electric vehicles have become ubiquitous in some of the largest cities in America like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
  • In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Marte, 31, was left in tears after the fan yelled derogatory comments about his late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic in 2017.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
  • Partnering with Horror, Inc. and Angry Orchard who share our passion has opened up a new way to engage fans.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Member's Mark Chicken Jerky Recipe Dog Treats Don’t forget your four-legged friends at Sam’s Club.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
  • Mahmoud Khalil greeted friends and spoke briefly to reporters at New Jersey’s Newark International Airport a day after leaving a federal immigration facility in Louisiana.
    Holly Ramer, Twin Cities, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • And for the people who spend 80-hour weeks sweating all the intimate details of service, the job means so much more than work, the team so much more than colleagues.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
  • The writers seemingly wanted to make a more intimate, heist-style crime drama without figuring out why or how Riri would fit into it.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • For executive leaders, AI fluency is emerging as a critical competency—not to write code or build models, but to ask the right questions, make informed decisions and set a compelling vision for the future.
    Chaitanya Laxminarayana, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • By making informed choices, men can effectively harness the advantages of omega-3 fatty acids for better health.
    Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 25 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Familiar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/familiar. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on familiar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!