Synonym Chooser

How is the word former distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of former are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When would antecedent be a good substitute for former?

The synonyms antecedent and former are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace former?

The meanings of anterior and former largely overlap; however, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When is foregoing a more appropriate choice than former?

The words foregoing and former are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When can preceding be used instead of former?

While the synonyms preceding and former are close in meaning, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of former?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

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 former Rachel Zegler is starring in one of London’s hottest West End productions right now, as former first lady of Argentina Eva Perón, in Evita. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025 California politics: In the June 18 Section A, a column about U.S. senators running for governor said former California Gov. George Deukmejian was term limited. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 The second of two debates includes Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former governor and mayoral front-runner, who will appear side by side with Zohran Mamdani, the thirty-three-year-old democratic-socialist assemblyman who has solidified his hold on second place in the polls. Eric Lach, New Yorker, 8 June 2025 James Young, 53, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Los Angeles, faces up to 29 years in prison after prosecutors amended a criminal complaint to include several counts like assault with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon and causing a hit-and-run accident. Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for former
Recent Examples of Synonyms for former
Adjective
  • Trump’s reelection dashed the view that his first presidency was a mere aberration, and his second administration’s early, seismic actions on global trade, skepticism toward allies, and affection for erstwhile adversaries have already changed the United States’ role and image in the world.
    REBECCA LISSNER, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
  • As an early example of this, Stephen Griffin, a constitutional law professor at Tulane Law School, points to the Quasi War, a limited naval conflict between the fledgling U.S. and its erstwhile Revolutionary War ally, France.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • For example, in March 2024, the UN reported that in the previous year, 100 allegations were reported in peacekeeping and special political missions.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Blue Origin Floating under three red-and-blue parachutes, the New Shepard capsule touched down a stone's throw from the booster's concrete landing pad, closer than any previous landing.
    William Harwood, CBS News, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The departing older president, the incoming younger Kennedy.
    Dr. Richard Fichman, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025
  • While older South Koreans remain most at risk, suicide is now the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 39.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sometimes, however, the criticism comes not from the party that lost, but from other justices.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 June 2025
  • Wyden, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and other senior Democrats made parliamentarian inquiries on the floor Sunday afternoon to set up a later challenge to the Republican baseline.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Former.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/former. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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