issue 1 of 2

1
2
as in exit
a place or means of going out since the lake is the issue of the polluted river, it is becoming polluted as well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in offspring
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant someone who dies without issue might have their estate turned over to the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

issue

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb issue differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of issue are arise, derive, emanate, flow, originate, proceed, rise, spring, and stem. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

How do arise and rise relate to one another, in the sense of issue?

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

When can derive be used instead of issue?

Although the words derive and issue have much in common, derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

Where would emanate be a reasonable alternative to issue?

The synonyms emanate and issue are sometimes interchangeable, but emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How are the words flow and spring related as synonyms of issue?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

When might originate be a better fit than issue?

The words originate and issue are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

When is it sensible to use proceed instead of issue?

In some situations, the words proceed and issue are roughly equivalent. However, proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

When could spring be used to replace issue?

While in some cases nearly identical to issue, spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

In what contexts can stem take the place of issue?

The words stem and issue can be used in similar contexts, but stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

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 issue
Noun
If McCarthy has any more injury issues or struggles in his initial season, the Vikings need a veteran quarterback to perform at a high level. Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Advertisement Advertisement The ascendance of Carney as a climate prime minister who didn’t talk about climate is all the more striking when considered alongside last year’s election in Mexico of Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist who also avoided talking about the issue in her campaign. Justin Worland, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
As soon as Biden was in office, the EPA just issued the waiver again. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 1 May 2025 Before the cameras were installed, officers typically issued around 570 tickets for impeding bus lanes monthly, the transportation department told LAist. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for issue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for issue
Noun
  • The most devastating of all those outcomes undoubtedly came in 2021 when, with a 3-1 series lead, the Leafs failed to close out the Habs with three chances to do so.
    Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
  • But as contagious as measles is, the outcome caused by just a few cases could be devastating, especially for children.
    Dan Sweeney, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • However, what Thunderbolts* has going for itself are its exits.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 3 May 2025
  • Madrid tried to bring forward his arrival to January, but senior figures at Anfield refused to negotiate his exit.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Tibbles and her feral offspring swiftly exterminated the island’s endemic Lyall’s wren — a flightless, songbird that had evolved without mammalian predators.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • There are simply too many variables to consider, including the genetic influence of does on their male offspring and the role that maturity plays in antler growth.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In May 2024, Combs was seen striking and dragging Ventura in a 2016 surveillance video first published by CNN.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
  • Hailing from the Mountain State, he has been published in newspapers and magazines throughout West Virginia, as well as in Virginia.
    Chris Slater, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • August reservations will be released on July 1 and so on.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • No other information about the incident was released.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The result is a string of entrepreneurial successes that continues to reverberate across some of the most critical areas of the 21st-century business landscape.
    Jon Stojan, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Full results of the trial will not be final until 2027 after a sufficient number of people have been tracked for 18 months after completing the four-month program.
    Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Fake words creeping like kudzu into scientific papers and dating profiles and e-mails and text messages and news outlets and social feeds and job listings and job applications.
    Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
  • In surveillance footage shared by the outlet, Angel can be seen running on the field as a dog appears behind him, then seemingly biting the child on the back of the leg.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • The hanging fruits had been emblazoned with the letters of the Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.
    Veronica Hilbring, Essence.com, 11 July 2017
  • My feeling is generally in the case of summer fruit pies, if things are in season and at their peak bounty, why be skimpy?
    Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit, 8 July 2017

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/issue. Accessed 10 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on issue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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