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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
Of that group of six, two (Weapons and Sinners) were spun whole cloth from their creators' imaginations, with The Black Phone, Final Destination, and The Conjuring follow-ons from franchises that began as original IP. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025 His team started with high-resolution digital files of the original, then printed and hand-painted the surface to replicate the texture and light play. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
Peanuts originals will remain on the service through at least 2030. Greta Cross, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025 Picturestart’s most recent releases include Together, starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, the Mila Kunis-starrer Luckiest Girl Alive, and the Apple TV original Sharper, starring Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for original
Recent Examples of Synonyms for original
Adjective
  • Anyone who loses will receive five bonus bets that add up to the initial stake.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Calderhead focuses on the British tactic, enacted two days after the initial attack, of moving their fleet into Flushing Bay to anchor for the night.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Neither built around the traditional J-pop structure of A-melody/B-melody/chorus nor modeled after the Western verse/chorus format, the track’s composition feels innovative — offering a glimpse into an entirely new dimension of pop.
    Billboard Japan, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Producers can earn buttons for every sincere step taken toward improving their forest sourcing practices—from adopting strong policies to investing in innovative, next-generation materials.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Break out of a rut by being open to novel approaches toward love and by being less codependent.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The team employed a novel method using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) directly to the testes.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark A prototype for many parks that have been fashioned after it (most notably Disney’s theme parks), Tivoli Gardens has been an escape for Danes and tourists since its gates first opened in 1843.
    Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Cartweel Robotics aims to debut its full-body walking Yogi prototype at the Humanoids Summit held in Silicon Valley this December.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Animated characters like Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula and Fred Flintstone blurred the line between ads and morning cartoons.
    Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The novel can get busy—Taylor introduces each of Wyeth’s studio mates in the first chapter, then all but abandons half of them to squeeze in more significant characters—but there’s a warmth in the overcrowding.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at the beginning of the month, dropping points for the first time in the Women’s Super League (WSL) this season, Chelsea needed a penalty to equalise and finish with the same result away against FC Twente of the Vrouwen Eredivisie.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Friday’s press conference before Game 1 of the finals marked Engelbert’s first public comments since her stewardship came under fire from some of the league’s biggest stars earlier this week.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Most successful forgers were smart and creative people, and many of their forgeries were consummate, even ingenious.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The opinion is also one of which the new Victoria’s Secret creative director, Adam Selman, disagrees with.
    Essence, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, aging aircraft fleets and a wave of retirements have created an urgent demand for new technicians.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • In this new study featuring more than 1,000 participants at 244 sites in 17 countries, patients received either enzalutamide plus leuprolide (the combination group), leuprolide (the leuprolide-alone group), or enzalutamide monotherapy (the monotherapy group).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Original.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/original. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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