Thesaurus

familiar

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of familiar

1 closely acquainted

the little inside jokes that people who have long been familiar like to share

Synonyms of familiar

bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, friendly, inseparable, intimate, inward, near, thick, tight

Words Related to familiar

clannish, close-knit, tight-knit

affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty

gregarious, sociable, social

comfortable, cozy, easy, snug

amicable, neighborly

confidential, secretive

adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm

Near Antonyms of familiar

aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

Antonyms of familiar

2 having information especially as a result of study or experience

book editors who are familiar with what is being taught in the schools

Synonyms of familiar

abreast, acquainted, au courant, conversant, informed, knowledgeable, up, up-to-date, versed, well-informed

Words Related to familiar

alive, aware, cognizant, conscious, heedful, mindful, sensible, sentient

Phrases Synonymous with familiar

at home, in the know

Near Antonyms of familiar

insensible, unaware, unconscious, unmindful

blind, oblivious, unknowing, unwitting

inattentive, unheeding

Antonyms of familiar

ignorant, unacquainted, unfamiliar, uninformed, unknowledgeable

3 often observed or encountered

the woman and her pair of Welsh corgis were a familiar sight in the quiet neighborhood

Synonyms of familiar

common, common or garden [chiefly British], commonplace, everyday, frequent, garden-variety, household, ordinary, quotidian, routine, ubiquitous, usual

Words Related to familiar

normal, regular, standard

de rigueur, mandatory, obligatory

general, universal

ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, incessant, unceasing

endemic, popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant

perennial, recurrent, repeated

Phrases Synonymous with familiar

Near Antonyms of familiar

aberrant, abnormal, irregular, unnatural

intermittent, occasional, sporadic

Antonyms of familiar

extraordinary, infrequent, rare, seldom, uncommon, unfamiliar, unusual

4 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty

rather too familiar for a first-time guest in our home, the woman kept asking how much we paid for this or for that

Synonyms of familiar

bold, forward, free, immodest, overfamiliar, presuming, presumptuous

Words Related to familiar

arrogant, bumptious, complacent, conceited, egoistic (also egoistical), egomaniacal, egotistic (or egotistical), highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-hat, hoity-toity, important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-asserting, self-assertive, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-important, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious

cavalier, disdainful, haughty, lordly, pretentious, snobbish, stuck-up, supercilious, superior

audacious, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, cheeky, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, overbold, pert, sassy, saucy

confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure

boastful, braggart, bragging

domineering, high-handed, imperious

self-absorbed, self-centered, self-concerned, self-engrossed, self-infatuated, self-interested, self-involved, selfish, self-obsessed, self-seeking

Near Antonyms of familiar

demure, down-to-earth, humble, lowly, meek, unassertive, unpretentious

bashful, mousy (or mousey), retiring, shy, timid, timorous

diffident, self-doubting

Antonyms of familiar

modest, unassuming

Synonym Discussion of familiar

common, ordinary, plain, familiar, popular, vulgar mean generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual. common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence

- a common error
- lacked common honesty

and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

- common manners

ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

- an ordinary pleasant summer day
- a very ordinary sort of man

plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

- plain hard-working people

familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

- a familiar melody

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

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

- souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

familiar

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of familiar

1 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place

a longtime familiar of the bar, she would most likely have been there on the night in question

Synonyms of familiar

denizen, frequenter, habitué (also habitue), haunter, rat, regular

Words Related to familiar

client, customer, guest, patron

addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, freak, lover, maniac, nut

2 a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another

with old familiars the normally reserved writer can be quite warm and funny

Synonyms of familiar

alter ego, amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, friend, intimate, mate [chiefly British], musketeer, pal

Words Related to familiar

associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport

blood brother, brother, main man, sister

abettor (also abetter), accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate

benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher

Near Antonyms of familiar

adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival

archenemy, nemesis

Antonyms of familiar

Learn More about familiar

Dictionary: Definition of familiar Spanish Central: Translation of familiar Nglish: Translation of familiar for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of familiar for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about familiar

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up familiar? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

inexorable

not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped