original 1 of 2

1
2
3

original

2 of 2

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
That said, the announcement also came with the news that the creative team behind the original film — directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, screenwriter Matthew Fogel, and composer Brian Tyler — would all return for the next adventure. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2025 Now, the pastor is looking to the future A few original rooms hint at the state of Redeemer pre-renovation. Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
The pair played sisters Gillian and Sally in the 1998 original, based on the 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman. Tommy McArdle, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Netflix has come a long way from its DVD-by-mail days to become a streaming giant stacked with the buzzy new releases and top-performing originals. Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for original
Recent Examples of Synonyms for original
Adjective
  • After an initial jam session to determine musical abilities and interests, participants are paired up and assigned to a counselor who manages their activities for the week.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • As other guests like Futura, Natasha Lyonne, Common and Marisa Tomei arrived at Saga after their initial experiences, and hungry for more, dinner was just getting underway for the Moon group.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Often, the most innovative solutions come from combining AI insights with human wisdom from diverse sources.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • What transpired were innovative and somewhat futuristic trousers, blazers, and outerwear.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This novel rocks just as hard as its heroine, Opal, a badass Black singer in the ‘60s and ‘70s made in the image of icons like Grace Jones and Betty Davis.
    Lauren Morrow September 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
  • This allows bitBiome researchers to identify novel genes to insert into a standard laboratory protein-production organism and generate samples of potentially interesting new versions of the enzymes or proteins encoded by the isolated gene sequences.
    Steven Savage, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This evolved into a prototype chiefly engineered by Burrell Smith, selecting for its CPU the 8-bit Motorola 6809 as an upgrade from the Apple II's MOS 6502 but still keeping costs low.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Working nights in his garage, Trombone built the prototype using personal funds.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Indeed, the only character from The Office that actually carried over into the new series is Oscar, who serves as the lead accountant for Softees but gets dragooned into reporting and constructing Sudokus for the paper.
    Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Instead, deaf viewers see unsynchronized plain white text on a black background and it is left to their imagination to infer those rich and nuanced character tomes essential for storytelling that hearing audiences take for granted.
    Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Kirsten Obstacles and my first realisations about society's stereotypical attitudes toward motherhood, being a mother, and being an artist and mother quickly led me to take action.
    Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The high-energy track, which blends old school hip-hop vibes with rock elements, marks the first time a virtual group has ever produced a song and direct choreography for an audition survival series.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, Target is taking aim at its biggest problem, and given the declining fortunes of this classic American brand, that alone constitutes a creative step in the right direction.
    Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • From a creative perspective, who was the better playwright, Inchbald the professional or Austen, who merely played around at it in her fiction?
    Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This reduces waste, extends product lifespan, and minimizes the use of new materials.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Ahead of the premiere of her new Netflix series, Too Much, written for her by Lena Dunham, the 33-year-old reflects on what got her to this moment.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Original.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/original. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on original

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!