Definition of itemnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun item contrast with its synonyms?

The words detail and particular are common synonyms of item. While all three words mean "one of the distinct parts of a whole," item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated.

every item on the list

When might detail be a better fit than item?

The synonyms detail and item are sometimes interchangeable, but detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process.

leave the details to others

When would particular be a good substitute for item?

Although the words particular and item have much in common, particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item.

a description that included few particulars

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 item In 1980, the average American bought 12-14 clothing items a year. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 To get a real feel of how the locals live, OCT-LOFT, Happy, and MixC malls are landscaped outdoor shopping areas, chock-full of bespoke stores and cafes that sell items like milk teas, home decor, and artisan jewelry. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 Some private-label items aren’t designed to resemble a specific national brand at all. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Nearly every piece of decor/furniture had been destroyed leaving glass and sharp items everywhere. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for item
Recent Examples of Synonyms for item
Noun
  • Skip to main content Find hotels Restaurants Bars As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Golden State’s defense made things very hard for Atlanta again, and Gabby Williams took over in the second half, leaving our fair city’s professional championship count at three (two Braves, one United).
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • On the other, Anthropic has argued that its AI model, Claude, has shown signs of introspection, internal states that mirror joy or satisfaction, and processing information similar to the human mind.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • State officials had provided a version of the rolls that withheld such sensitive personal information, citing privacy concerns.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • But Cathcarts can’t use the Flora stuff because they’re not supposed to know about the honey trap, not that Morgan knows that he is not supposed to know.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Capricorn December 22 – January 19 The everyday stuff could go surprisingly well today.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Privacy rules limit sharing info on discipline Federal privacy law does not categorically prohibit universities from sharing a student’s disciplinary history with housing officials.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • See the festival website for ticket info and full descriptions.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Explore one detail together, and see whether your curiosity holds up.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 4 Nov. 2026
  • At the March meeting, when council members approved an antidiscrimination ordinance introduced by Councilmember Byers, the council also instructed city staff to work out the details of a potential multi-partner domestic registry.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Long story short, campers stay warmer on cold nights and cooler on hot nights without a loud, emissions-spewing engine or generator running in the background.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • While two of the three semifinalists had a base camp here, and international stars like Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham lived in Kansas City, the biggest story arguably was what happened west of town.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Photos portray the particulars of prewar life, with images of sports teams, school groups, bustling market squares and busy, modern streets.
    — Jennifer Rich, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Details so far are scarce as Copia works with the BLM’s Shoshone Field Office on the particulars of the plan, Tiel-Nelson said.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cooper is going into election night with polls giving him about an 11-point advantage.
    — David Raynor, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026
  • To that point, some advisers indicated to Semafor that the results rolling in so far were not surprising to them.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Item.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/item. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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