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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective original differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of original are fresh, new, and novel. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

Where would fresh be a reasonable alternative to original?

In some situations, the words fresh and original are roughly equivalent. However, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

When can new be used instead of original?

The words new and original can be used in similar contexts, but 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 would novel be a good substitute for original?

The words novel and original are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

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 original
Adjective
Old Crow Medicine Show’s presence is also felt on the new album, as some of the group’s original members — Critter Fuqua on drums and harmonies and Willie Watson on harmonies — appear on several tracks. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 July 2025 Prior to the finale, Taylor Williams, who was an original cast member, and Clarke Carraway, who was a Casa Amor bombshell, were eliminated on July 8 after receiving the fewest fan votes. Caroline Blair, People.com, 11 July 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, both of the spinoffs were Netflix originals. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 9 July 2025 The novel takes place nearly a decade after the original and sees Andy and Emily come together as top magazine editors, while Miranda reappears in Andy's life with a tempting offer. Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for original
Recent Examples of Synonyms for original
Adjective
  • That's because the initial yield of NASA's Kepler space telescope, which discovered nearly 3,000 planets in its nine years of operation, relied on worlds transiting — passing between their star and Earth.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 15 July 2025
  • But xAI’s Grok took a very different route in the initial rounds of testing.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Sample the fruits of a burgeoning wine scene in the Finger Lakes A new crop of innovative winemakers is raising the bar in the Finger Lakes wine region, where unique grape varieties and low-intervention practices are increasingly replacing the sweeter wines long associated with the area.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
  • Involve your team in brainstorming sessions to find innovative ways to achieve goals with limited resources.
    Shavonnah Schreiber, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • But in reality, many of the most successful companies didn’t start with novel inventions.
    Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Her novel Tongue was published in English by Bloomsbury in 2009.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • To do so, Nemo audaciously steals a prototype submarine from the penal colony in which he is imprisoned, escaping into the ocean with a motley crew of fellow prisoners.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 July 2025
  • Try generating your own wireframe or high-fidelity prototype.
    Shyam Ravindranathan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Actor Tom Welling played Ultraman in live-action form on a 2010 episode of Smallville, which introduced the character as Clark Luthor of Earth-Two.
    EW.com, EW.com, 14 July 2025
  • The nonprofit group behind the Sesame Street character quickly sought to regain control of the account and deleted the comments.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is the first time the river has been opened to swimmers since 1923, Reuters reported.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
  • Estévez, 32, has shined in his first season with the Royals.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • With so many people looking for work, there‘s intense competition for those jobs, and the ways to apply can be creative and involved.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025
  • Another creative idea many commenters proposed was using the stained glass fixture as a fruit bowl.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • The veteran outfielder has been trying to adjust to a new role as a platoon DH this season.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
  • The mayor has yet to internalize how much City Hall’s elaborate bait-and-switch on voters in winning approval of much-higher-than-promised new trash fees on 226,000-plus single-family homes has damaged his reputation.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Original.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/original. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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