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material

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adjective

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word material different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of material are applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, pertinent, and relevant. While all these words mean "relating to or bearing upon the matter in hand," material implies so close a relationship that it cannot be dispensed with without serious alteration of the case.

facts material to the investigation

When is it sensible to use applicable instead of material?

The synonyms applicable and material are sometimes interchangeable, but applicable suggests the fitness of bringing a general rule or principle to bear upon a particular case.

the rule is not applicable in this case

When might apposite be a better fit than material?

In some situations, the words apposite and material are roughly equivalent. However, apposite suggests a felicitous relevance.

add an apposite quotation to the definition

When is apropos a more appropriate choice than material?

Although the words apropos and material have much in common, apropos suggests being both relevant and opportune.

the quip was apropos

When could germane be used to replace material?

While in some cases nearly identical to material, germane may additionally imply a fitness for or appropriateness to the situation or occasion.

a point not germane to the discussion

When can pertinent be used instead of material?

The words pertinent and material can be used in similar contexts, but pertinent stresses a clear and decisive relevance.

a pertinent observation

Where would relevant be a reasonable alternative to material?

The meanings of relevant and material largely overlap; however, relevant implies a traceable, significant, logical connection.

found material relevant to her case

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 material
Noun
House proportions, window placement and even the materials used all play into the traditional style of home building seen throughout Union Village, Obringer said. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 7 Aug. 2025 The Crocs platform sandals are made from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) material, which is known for providing optimal cushioning and shock absorption for daily wear. Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Textile processing—which includes production and finishing—remains the largest culprit, accounting for 55 percent of emissions in 2023, followed by material production at 22 percent. Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 24 July 2025 Or rather, its erasure is complex and, as with Mike Gold’s prescient trip to the suburbs, part of a larger ideological and material project that included an incomplete but nonetheless wide incorporation of immigrant Jewish life into dominant American ideas of race, politics, and identity. Literary Hub, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for material
Recent Examples of Synonyms for material
Noun
  • But Trump did not rule out applying the new secondary sanctions on Beijing, despite the potential for scuttling the trade discussions.
    Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Voice queries are processed through xAI’s servers, and while Grok has potential as a co-pilot,Tesla has not released any specific goals or timelines in that direction.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This partnership extended beyond watches, encompassing innovations such as technical equipment and landing systems for aircraft carriers and helicopters capable ships.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Taiwanese local media reported that a former TSMC employee now works at top chip manufacturing equipment supplier Tokyo Electron Ltd., and that the Japanese firm’s Taiwan office was raided by investigators.
    Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The study demonstrates that contemporary archaeology is not about hunting for treasure, but reading signs in the sediment and understanding relationships among all the surviving physical evidence, said Daniel Diffendale, postdoctoral researcher at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Linkin Park reenters the general sales ranking at No. 85 and comes in one spot lower on the list of the top-selling physical titles.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • His background is in sports science, so body mechanics are important to him.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025
  • Fungi also play an important role in breaking down dead wood and leaves in forest ecosystems.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Drifting between moving-image formats and collaging local textures and bygone voices, Oscar Ruiz Navia’s film reflects on loss and mourning as experiences of temporal dislocation.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Without temporal intelligence, scale becomes noise.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Most relevant governmental agencies have avoided looking into the turbines’ impact in a meaningful way.
    Andrew R. Chow, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The new system, which users can access online, will automatically notify relevant parties once a complaint is filed.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The man, a Mexican national, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a federal officer, assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and destruction of government property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The following items are prohibited: Any object that can be used to inflict bodily injury or disrupt the event, chemical dispensing devices, noise-making devices, two-way radios.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • But a White House executive order last month seeks to bring back the old model, directing federal agencies to end funding for organizations that offer housing to people without first requiring treatment for substance abuse or serious mental illnesses.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Mike’s mental health struggles, and potentially his substance abuse, have contributed to a narrative that’s isolating him.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Material.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/material. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on material

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