Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

issue

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of issue

1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause
  • One of the issues of the Civil War was a resolution to the question of states' rights.
Synonyms of issue

aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, outcome, outgrowth, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot
Words Related to issue

ramification

denouement (also dénouement), echo, implication, repercussion

afterclap, afterglow, aftershock

by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect (also side reaction), spin-off
Phrases Synonymous with issue

matter of course
Near Antonyms of issue

consideration, determinant, factor

base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork

impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus

mother, origin, root, source, spring
Antonyms of issue

antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
2 a place or means of going out
  • Since the lake is the issue of the polluted river, it is becoming polluted as well.
Synonyms of issue

egress, exit, outlet
Words Related to issue

escape, escape hatch, release

gate, mouth, opening, passage, vent
Near Antonyms of issue

access, entrée (or entree)
Antonyms of issue

entrance, entranceway, entry, entryway, ingress
3 the descendants of a person, animal, or plant
  • Someone who dies without issue might have their estate turned over to the state.
Synonyms of issue

fruit, get, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed, spawn
Words Related to issue

brood, hatch, litter, young

child, scion

family, kin

lineage, stock
Near Antonyms of issue

ancestor, antecedent, father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, forefather, grandfather, parent, primogenitor, progenitor

issue

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of issue

1 to produce and release for distribution in printed form
  • plans to issue a monthly newsletter
Synonyms of issue

get out, print, publish, put out
Words Related to issue

copublish

reissue, reprint, republish

serialize

contribute, edit, syndicate

distribute, market
Phrases Synonymous with issue

come out with
Near Antonyms of issue

censor, suppress
2 to throw or give off
  • a volcano issuing vast clouds of hot ash
Synonyms of issue

cast, discharge, emanate, emit, evolve, exhale, expel, give out, irradiate, radiate, release, send (out), shoot, throw out, vent
Words Related to issue

eliminate, evacuate, excrete, exude, ooze, secrete

eject, erupt, gush, jet, outpour, pour, spew, spout, spray, spurt, squirt
Near Antonyms of issue

absorb, inhale, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

Synonym Discussion of issue

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence. spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.
    • an idea that springs to mind
arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.
    • new questions have arisen
    • slowly rose to prominence
originate implies a definite source or starting point.
    • the fire originated in the basement
derive implies a prior existence in another form.
    • the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast
flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.
    • words flowed easily from her pen
issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.
    • blood issued from the cut
emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.
    • reports emanating from the capital
proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.
    • advice that proceeds from the best of intentions
stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.
    • industries stemming from space research

Learn More about issue

  1. Dictionary: Definition of issue Medical Dictionary: Definition of issue Spanish Central: Translation of issue Nglish: Translation of issue for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of issue for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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

show hide

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