Definition of momentnext
1
as in time
a particular point at which an event takes place at that moment he suddenly turned around and headed toward me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
4
as in today
the time currently existing or in progress I'm not doing anything at the moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun moment differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of moment are consequence, importance, significance, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

Where would consequence be a reasonable alternative to moment?

The words consequence and moment can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

When is importance a more appropriate choice than moment?

The synonyms importance and moment are sometimes interchangeable, but importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When can significance be used instead of moment?

While in some cases nearly identical to moment, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

When could weight be used to replace moment?

While the synonyms weight and moment are close in meaning, weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

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 moment But at the last moment, the defense attorney sprung up from his chair to argue a Hail Mary in a final effort to avert a mistrial, prompting a court officer to hold out his hand to signal the jurors should not yet enter the courtroom. Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Most of the awards presented this weekend are for behind-the-scenes crew, but big names may also have big moments, especially in the guest acting categories. Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 The many fans who had their phones at the ready to capture such a moment. Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026 By October that year he was suited up in photography blues and armed with a professional camera, capturing the magical moments at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moment
Noun
  • Brughmans can throw the ball a long way, and do so accurately enough to initiate attacks before the other team has had time to reset.
    Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • All John needs to do is recite the Green Lanterns oath the next time Hal hands him his ring for training.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • With so many of the buildings downtown with any kind of historic architectural significance already under landmark protections, Berman has shifted his focus to preserving properties with some kind of social importance.
    David Freedlander, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Ayari’s importance to Hurzeler is undiminished so far this season.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Thirty minutes later, after a physician examined him, he was pronounced dead and covered with a white sheet.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Set the scene On rugged John’s Island 40 minutes outside of Charleston, Auberge’s Lowcountry debut deftly centers the coastal charm of the South Carolina sea islands—the second most bioactive habitat in the world, after only the Amazon Rainforest.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Business leaders can’t predict their way through today’s turbulent environment—and should stop trying.
    Danny Vincent, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Comcast stock fell more than 7% today after his Q&A at the media confab.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This bullpen has made history on multiple occasions this season.
    Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Pizza is one of those rare foods that seems to work for almost any occasion.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors disputed the significance that the defense placed on the payment, arguing that Noreus agreed to surrender the money only after years of investigation, her indictment and two weeks of trial.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Unfortunately, the significance of these exposures usually becomes clearer only years later.
    Cristina Johnson, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Ole Miss moves into the top 10 for its last-second win against another top-25 opponent in Louisville.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Senior receiver Mikey Matthews made a significant contribution, catching four passes for 88 yards, including a deep ball with 13 seconds left at the end of the first half that allowed UCLA to kick a field goal and take a seven-point lead.
    Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Not to mention the quandary price-lopping presents from a copyright perspective.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026
  • High-Mach flight presents engineering challenges that go far beyond simply making an aircraft travel faster.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moment. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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