LIGHT-YEARS Synonyms: 12 Similar and Opposite Words

light-years

noun

plural of light-year

as in worlds

a huge physical or conceptual distance my sister and I are close in age, but personality-wise, there are light-years between us

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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 light-years This star-forming region sits 20,000 light-years away from Earth. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 4 July 2026 And like the photons that travel billions of light-years to reach us, new fragments are constantly falling into place. — Quanta Magazine, 2 July 2026 The Milky Way is our home galaxy with a disc of stars that spans more than 100,000 light-years. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The luminous formation about 16 million light-years away visible around the galaxy is called a starburst ring, home to new stars. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 Rubin released its first images last year, including colorful shots of the Trifid and Lagoon nebulas located thousands of light-years from Earth. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Rubin released its first images last year, including colorful shots of the Trifid and Lagoon nebulas located thousands of light-years from Earth. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 Additionally, the transit method employed by TESS usually has a search radius of around 150 light-years. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for light-years

Noun

The mission won't just hunt for aliens, but rather explore these habitable planets and their atmospheres, expanding our understanding of other worlds while also being used for a variety of astronomical purposes.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 6 July 2026
In other worlds, the suit said the utilities agreed to operate in compliance with ISO orders, which at times included modifying or expanding their high voltage transmission systems.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Definition of worlds

Noun

The images may help scientists discern how galaxies form and cluster over billions of years, and how the universe came to be.

— Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Plenty of cosmic wonders are expected to be revealed by the telescope, including thousands of previously unseen asteroids, exploding supernova stars and millions of distant galaxies.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of galaxies

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“Light-years.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light-years. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of light-years

noun

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