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novel

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective novel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of novel are fresh, new, and original. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

When could fresh be used to replace novel?

While the synonyms fresh and novel are close in meaning, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

In what contexts can new take the place of novel?

Although the words new and novel have much in common, new may apply to what is freshly made and unused, what has not been known before, or what has not been experienced before.

new brick
new designs
starts the new job

When might original be a better fit than novel?

The meanings of original and novel largely overlap; however, original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

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 novel
Adjective
The movie adaptation was terrifying, but the creepy atmospheric tension in the novel is even scarier. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025 Among his many productions fuelled by his passion for cinema are The Dreamers (2009), based on the novel by Gilbert Adair, Week End (2010), inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s eponymous 1967 feature, and Katzelmacher inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s 1969 film. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
The movie became a hit in theaters, received an Academy Award nomination for Animated Feature Film and even spawned video game and novel adaptations. Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 Though the research is novel, the findings are not. Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for novel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novel
Adjective
  • After being integrated, this system will demonstrate its capabilities in live-fire tests – advancing the Department of War’s effort to evaluate and accelerate new, cost-effective strike capabilities for conventional deterrence.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Fifth Third Bank is also looking to open a new branch on Golden Bear Gateway near Costco in December, O'Meara said.
    Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Allowing two goals on nine shots against a team outside of the playoff picture won’t help change that narrative.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Traditional narratives obscure the role slavery might have played in Texas’ drive for independence and portray the Alamo’s defenders as freedom fighters.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Alfred Hitchcock turned one of Woolrich’s novelettes into Rear Window, for which Woolrich was paid the grand sum of $650.
    Sam Kashner, Air Mail, 12 Apr. 2025
  • What began as an audio-only novelette (drawing on el-Mohtar’s own experience with the harp) has transformed into a novella with illustrations: In the town of Thistleford, Hawthorn sisters Esther and Ysabel raise their voices together to sing about everything from adventure to sadness.
    Natalie Zutter January 2, Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The top challenges cited with this model included unfamiliar peers and longer routes.
    Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 22 Oct. 2025
  • On Tubi, the belief is that the consumers of this kind of content are a mix of existing fans of the creators as well as viewers who were previously unfamiliar with the creators, since many go through and watch all episodes.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This, the medical profession maintains, is the stuff of fiction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
  • These spots are all gone, but now, due in part to the rise of #BookTok, where genre fiction often goes viral, booksellers are once again getting more targeted in their approach.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the thought stuck with Willinger, the author of a monograph on Muratova.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Preceding her Acquavella presentation—her first since officially joining the gallery’s roster—were three other shows in 2025 (two in Maine and one in Paris), plus the release of her monograph.
    Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After three seasons of winning most weeks, the chances of going full pelt once again were slim, even after a summer that saw an unprecedented £33million ($44m) spent on new signings.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Although such recommendations take time to trickle into state regulations, a number of them appeared in a building code that California enacted in 2008, Chapter 7A, which set unprecedented standards for new houses in the most fire-prone areas.
    Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Individual short movies dedicated to each protagonist in which talents share personal anecdotes and holiday memories will also be released as part of the campaign.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Royal correspondent Valentine Low’s new book shares insights about Queen Elizabeth‘s political allegiances, and one particular anecdote involves former President Barack Obama.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Novel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novel. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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