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Synonym Chooser

How is the word perpetual different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of perpetual are constant, continual, continuous, incessant, and perennial. While all these words mean "characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence," perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

When is constant a more appropriate choice than perpetual?

The words constant and perpetual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

When can continual be used instead of perpetual?

While the synonyms continual and perpetual are close in meaning, continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

When would continuous be a good substitute for perpetual?

While in some cases nearly identical to perpetual, continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

In what contexts can incessant take the place of perpetual?

In some situations, the words incessant and perpetual are roughly equivalent. However, incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

When is it sensible to use perennial instead of perpetual?

The synonyms perennial and perpetual are sometimes interchangeable, but perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

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 perpetual Sinners is one of the great vampire movies of the modern age, mining the legend of these perpetual outsiders who desperately yearn to belong. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 June 2025 Even their most die-hard fans are experiencing the unavoidable apathy of perpetual losing. Sam Blum, New York Times, 19 May 2025 By Robert Lloyd , Maira Garcia and Yvonne Villarreal May 16, 2025 12:05 PM PT Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who is feeling better about their perpetual identity crisis after watching streamer Max flip-flop its name back to HBO Max. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025 Jon Pertwee's Doctor spent much of his tenure exiled on Earth — a punishment doled out by the Time Lords for his perpetual interference in other cultures — but found plenty of work as a scientific advisor for UNIT, an organisation that remains integral in the modern era of the show. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for perpetual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perpetual
Adjective
  • California's continuous temblor risk coincides with a huge earthquake brewing along the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 8 June 2025
  • Extreme weather events such as flooding, are also a continuous threat to farmers.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • If splintering the institution is always an option, the result is ongoing anarchy.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Like other award ceremonies, BET has also endured its share of bumps and bruises in the ongoing tug of war between captivating audiences in a 24/7 media world and lower ratings.
    Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • In the end, his beautiful story solutions are formulaic fixes laid over those details, meant to do little more than the eternal work of cajoling the audience into rooting for the leading players.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Cruz Azul cruises Cruz Azul had not played since May 18, eliminated in the Liga MX semifinals by eternal rival Club América.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Adjective
  • Her belief in continual evolution is what allows Billboard to stay ahead of trends while never losing sight of its clients' goals.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 June 2025
  • And now with tariffs adding to the issue, teams need to develop a digital sandbox of their end-to-end supply chains to test out alternative sourcing and pricing strategies on a continual basis to improve and feed planning and execution as new ways of producing and sourcing arise.
    Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Once again, Brian and The Beach Boys had created one of the era’s most enduring and loved pieces of music.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 June 2025
  • Naturally, the Australian will also have an enduring emotional connection with a fanbase starved for silverware and a group of players new to winning trophies.
    Elias Burke, New York Times, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • Ovation Sparkling Wine – a full-bodied and rich sparkler with fresh notes of green apple on the nose followed by complex toasty notes, white peach, lemon meringue, a hint of salty stone, and endless streaming bubbles.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • These creamy, dreamy products rose to the top After tasting endless cartons of creamer, cups of yogurt and containers of cheese, eight udderly delicious products were crowned the champs of PEOPLE Food Awards 2025.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Preserving the conservative majority will ensure the county’s continued success, Ramirez said.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2025
  • With the lack of licensing and taxation for hemp, and continued problems for cannabis, the state is losing out on millions in potential tax revenue, Ford said.
    Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Diaz is accompanied by an immortal knight, a resourceful swashbuckler, an elderly vampire, a horny werewolf and an elf who can turn invisible (using a power that reminded me of Doli from The Prydain Chronicles).
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • Sacchi had been hired to implement his countercultural style to Italy — the high-pressing, on-the-front-foot, winning-isn’t-enough-on-its-own mentality of his era-defining and immortal Milan side.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perpetual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perpetual. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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