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 The building, a century-old former canning and bottling plant, was donated in 2017 to two nonprofits — Affordable Recovery Housing and Residence for Patriots Services — according to a trustee’s deed documenting the transfer. Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 Flying along with the three household names will be former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, activist and bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025 Walter Nolen is a former top prospect who the physical traits to be a dominant force on the defensive interior. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025 He was followed by former New York Giants defensive end and TV host Michael Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, for whom the rocket is named. Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for former
Recent Examples of Synonyms for former
Adjective
  • That Horan yearns for the Fed to centrally plan an absurd creation of statist economists (GDP), prices, income, and employment more broadly is yet another disturbing lurch by an erstwhile free-market crowd that brevity disallows discussion of for now.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The team is also working on restoring the habitat across the island, which was stripped of all its vegetation during its time as an erstwhile guano mining spot.
    Tim Chester, AFAR Media, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The panic nearly erased all the gains of the previous three years of Trump's administration.
    Jim Sergent, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • It's powered by the extremely fast S9 chip and boasts a brighter OLED display than previous models with the addition of new features, like the handy double-tap gesture.
    Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • An older player was driving the younger ones and pretended to get lost in an isolated section of the county, where a group of accomplices emerged in masks and black clothing, imitating an abduction with at least one gun and one knife, according to the district attorney.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 May 2025
  • The movie set, like all others, should have only had blanks on hand, but somehow a number of live rounds made their way to the location and one such bullet ended up in the gun that went off as Hutchins and Baldwin lined up a shot in an old church.
    Marco della Cava, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Let your words be intentional and your thoughts be clear—especially when involving other people into your mental maze.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
  • The pair then later came face-to-face with one another as tensions ran high, before eventually being separated by players and other security personnel.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on former

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