ORIGINALITY Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

originality

noun

ə-ˌri-jə-ˈna-lə-tē

Definition of originality

as in novelty

the quality or appeal of being new the originality of the war memorial sparked a heated controversy, as most people had been expecting something more traditional

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in creativity

the skill and imagination to create new things a poet of great originality, she brought a whole new range of subject matter and imagery to poetry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in imagination

the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others a graphic novel that shows a lot of originality on the part of its creator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 originality The two musicians are so good at aping the sounds they were raised on that originality and reference become one and the same. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026 And Hollywood still hasn’t truly invested in that kind of originality. — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026 Since its earliest days, the video game industry has been built on developers creating clones of competing games, with varying levels of originality and varying levels of enforcement from game platforms. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 Others could imitate but never replicate; their coolness was predicated on their originality. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for originality

Recent Examples of Synonyms for originality

Noun

The family costume isn’t complete without little Danny Torrance (played by Danny Lloyd), dressed in denim overalls, chunky novelty knits and red Converse sneakers.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
If novelty is more your thing, contemporary art is also on the menu.

— Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of novelty

Noun

The space will serve as a platform for individuals with disabilities to showcase their talents, express their creativity and build confidence while bringing families, supporters and community members together, the release said.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Those parameters can offer the opportunity for creativity and on-the-fly problem-solving.

— Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of creativity

Noun

His work is visionary, and his stealth and imagination of camera work and storytelling is so visceral and sensuous.

— Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
For one of the optimistic developers of AI, the musically minded computer scientist Marvin Minsky, the Media Lab functioned akin to a surgeon removing blockages to the imagination.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of imagination

Noun

At Garth Greenan, where more than forty of Drexler’s paintings and drawings from the sixties were on display, I was struck, once again, by the astonishing freshness and psychological bite of her work.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
The range, the variety, the freshness, the ecstatic culture of experimentation.

— Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of freshness

Noun

But a slowdown in consumer demand globally also could cause comps to retrench, especially if newness fails to resonate with consumers and sales become worse than expected.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
It-items tend to combine an exciting spark of newness with an ability to fit seamlessly into people’s closets.

— Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of newness

Noun

The opportunity now is to expand their reach, drawing more fully on the investment, expertise and ingenuity of South Florida’s business community.

— Steven Vollmer, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
His nicknames usually reflect his role as a catalyst—The Initiator, The Originator, The Godfather—yet less so his ingenuity and down-home dedication.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of ingenuity

Browse Nearby Words

original

originality

originally

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Originality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/originality. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of originality

noun

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