par

noun

ˈpär How to pronounce par (audio)
Definition of parnext
1
as in standard
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared that last dining experience was not quite up to par

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in equivalence
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality these California wines are on a par with the best produced in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in average
what is typical of a group, class, or series a pulse of 70 is par for people of that age group

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 par Phillips, in his sixth year leading the league, believes the ACC to be on par with the Power Four powerbrokers in the SEC and Big Ten. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 16 July 2026 Scheffler had few complaints after a 68, even not making a birdie over his last 12 holes, playing the two par 5s in 1 over and making a pair of soft bogeys. — Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026 Overall, the plan is on par with a request the White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past four months. — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 15 July 2026 Customers report expensive one-time services like termite, rodent and general pest control quotes, but the prices are on par with other larger pest companies like Orkin and Terminix. — Jay Sparks, USA Today, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for par
Recent Examples of Synonyms for par
  1. standard
  2. equivalence
  3. average
  4. criterion
  5. equivalency
  6. normal
  7. benchmark
  8. equality
Noun
  • Athletes in this league consistently speak out against everything from poor operational standards within certain organizations to leadership’s missteps.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The Cowboys could be a bit more fluid there with the interchangeability of certain players on the roster, but if the previous standard remains, there will be one final spot to fight for in training camp.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Definition of standard
Noun
  • That’s a false equivalence a lot of the time.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
  • There are journalists curious about making the leap, journalists who already made it and want to evangelize, and journalists who are furious at him for making some kind of equivalence between these jobs and journalism.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Definition of equivalence
Noun
  • Idaho routinely ranks among the safest states in the nation, with violent and property crimes rates far below national averages.
    — Sarah Linn July 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2026
  • That is well below the historical average of 40%, according to the personal finance website.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of average
Noun
  • Pittenger and Sibley say creators have an incentive to post hot-takes that go viral, and that social media videos often over-simply complex diagnosis criteria.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • Whether another city eventually meets those criteria remains open, but Hutchens is clear that any future expansion will remain deliberate.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 17 July 2026
Definition of criterion
Noun
  • There’s an equivalency with Platner, and some of it has to do with a populist style of politics.
    — Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • Adult general education programs prepare those taking the GED exam for the equivalency of a high school diploma.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of equivalency
Noun
  • But the idea of global water bankruptcy shows that in many places, there’s no old normal to go back to.
    — Sara Roversi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Wednesday looks like a typical summer day in the metro, with sunny skies pushing highs to around 91 degrees, a bit above the mid-July normal of 88.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Definition of normal
Noun
  • West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark, is up around $12 a barrel this month.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Still, the benchmark remains up 62% for the year, among the world’s best performers.
    — Winnie Hsu, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Definition of benchmark
Noun
  • These foundations were care, equality, proportionality (rewarding individuals relative to their contribution), loyalty, authority or respect for legitimate authorities, and purity (concern with preserving what is seen as natural or sacred).
    — Alexandra Figueroa, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
  • For a while, they were known for their commitment to community work and to racial equality, and also for a willingness to show up at protests and support comrades in need.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
Definition of equality

Phrases Containing par

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papules
par
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Cite this Entry

“Par.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/par. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on par

Nglish: Translation of par for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about par

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