Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

familiarity

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of familiarity

1 the state of being in a very personal or private relationship

  • the elderly couple enjoys a familiarity that is the result of many years of happy marriage
Synonyms of familiarity

belonging, chumminess, closeness, inseparability, intimacy, nearness
Words Related to familiarity

immediacy

affinity, kinship

commitment, devotedness, devotion

affection, attachment, fondness, love, passion

constancy, faithfulness, fidelity

amity, fellowship, friendship, goodwill

affability, conviviality, cordiality, geniality

mutuality

cliquishness, clubbiness
Near Antonyms of familiarity

aloofness, coldness, coolness, remoteness, reserve
Antonyms of familiarity

distance

2 a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark

  • placing his hand on my shoulder was just one familiarity by the car salesman that I did not appreciate
Synonyms of familiarity

faux pas, gaff, gaffe, impropriety, indiscretion, solecism
Words Related to familiarity

blunder, error, flub, fumble, goof, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, slip, slipup, stumble

discourtesy, incivility, offense (or offence)

boner, howler

foul-up, muff

misapprehension, miscalculation, misconception, misjudgment, misstatement, misunderstanding
Near Antonyms of familiarity

form, manners, mores, proprieties
Antonyms of familiarity

amenity, attention, civility, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry

3 knowledge gained by personal experience

  • the restaurant criticʼs considerable familiarity with restaurant kitchens should stand her in good stead
Synonyms of familiarity

acquaintance, cognizance
Words Related to familiarity

association, experience, exposure, intimacy, involvement

initiation, introduction

awareness, comprehension, conception, inkling, notion, understanding

education, enlightenment, grounding, information, instruction, learning, schooling, training
Near Antonyms of familiarity

callowness, greenness, ignorance, inexperience
Antonyms of familiarity

unfamiliarity

Learn More about familiarity

  1. See words that rhyme with familiarity Dictionary: Definition of familiarity Spanish Central: Translation of familiarity Nglish: Translation of familiarity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of familiarity for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games