lemon

noun

ˈle-mən How to pronounce lemon (audio)
Definition of lemonnext
as in disaster
something that has failed the used car he bought turned out to be a lemon, and he soon had trouble starting the thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lemon The filling is made with whole cherries picked at peak ripeness, along with sugar and a hint of lemon to create a sweet-tart flavor. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026 Tracee Ellis Ross favors Udi’s gluten-free bread topped with smashed avocado, lemon juice, crushed red pepper and salt as an afternoon snack, according to a People food diary. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 Try one of the Greek wines by the glass, then several dishes — spreads like tzatziki and taramasalata, zucchini and feta fritters, and braised short rib with lemon potato puree (plus, from-scratch desserts like the seasonal cheesecake). — Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Condiments should be sharp—a savory jolt of mignonette or vinegary hot sauce, an austere spritz of lemon—and the same goes for drinks. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lemon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lemon
  1. disaster
  2. failure
  3. bust
  4. loser
  5. disappointment
  6. frost
  7. bomb
  8. catastrophe
Noun
  • Displaced from their homes, hundreds of families resettled on the low-lying banks of the Trishuli river – only to face yet another horrific disaster on Wednesday.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Purchase and install emergency generators, integrate electrical systems, and conduct testing and preparedness activities so participating rural hospitals can maintain critical services during outages and disasters.
    — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • The failure by American and Canadian trade negotiators to reach a deal came after nearly two weeks of furious talks.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Ultimately Keegan’s team fell short, but this was no failure.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • That is because the Ivorian cocoa industry remains tethered to the boom and bust of commodity prices.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Nothing can ruin your day quite like the dull ache of underwire hoisting up your bust.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of bust
Noun
  • Other than taxpayers, bodega owners stand to be some of the biggest losers if New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) realizes his dream of city-run grocery stores.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Amid the stresses of the Arctic, scientists are rethinking the idea that all life is a cutthroat competition with winners and losers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of loser
Noun
  • At the same time, the Panthers saw very little impact from their pass rush — a disappointment considering the beleaguered state of Houston’s offensive line — and Stroud didn’t struggle to find short completions.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In the comments, fans congratulated Aly on her Broadway debut while others shared their disappointment over not being able to see the duo live.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • There’s massaging seats with 15 individual air bladders, and a heated windshield that uses a thin metallic coating to remove winter frost without having to rely on climate control.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In frost-prone areas, plants die back to the ground in winter but quickly regrow to a height of 3 to 5 feet each season.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of frost
Noun
  • The violence primarily involved small bombs, arson and other forms of property damage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Woods threw for three touchdowns — one to Zachariah Jean-Bart for a 63-yard catch and run, a 35-yard bomb to Zion Siler, and a 21-yarder to Jaiziah Battle.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • That tension between catastrophe for humanity and recovery for nature runs all the way to the ending.
    — Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The first step in averting this spiral toward catastrophe is for both Beijing and Washington to bear in mind that these economic tools were not designed as weapons.
    — GLORIA XIONG, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of catastrophe

Browse Nearby Words

leisurely
lemon
lemons
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lemon. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on lemon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lemon

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of kith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All