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as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy a truly popular revolution, not one that replaced one dictatorship with another

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in affordable
being within the financial means of most people from their inception, DVDs were designed to be sold directly to consumers at popular prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective popular contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of popular are common, familiar, ordinary, plain, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

When is it sensible to use common instead of popular?

While the synonyms common and popular are close in meaning, common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When would familiar be a good substitute for popular?

In some situations, the words familiar and popular are roughly equivalent. However, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

When might ordinary be a better fit than popular?

While in some cases nearly identical to popular, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

In what contexts can plain take the place of popular?

The words plain and popular can be used in similar contexts, but plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

How are the words vulgar and popular related?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

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 popular Tree-planting became even more popular among schools in 1882, and children were sent home with trees to plant in their own yards, reported History.com. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025 While Way Day started as an annual spring event, the sale has become so popular that Wayfair added a second promotion in the fall with equally impressive markdowns. Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2025 The regulations also take aim at some of the techniques that have become popular in recent years, such as chumming (the act of throwing bloody fish parts or other bait into the water to attract sharks). Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Milk bath nails have become popular for its sheer milky color worn by celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Meghan Markle. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for popular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popular
Adjective
  • Lululemon Scuba Oversized Half-zip Hoodie $118 $89 at Lululemon Lululemon excels at crafting fashionable yet functional activewear, and its uber-popular Scuba Hoodies are a testament to that.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Hands in the dirt or not, one thing is always guaranteed — Martha Stewart is going to be looking fashionable.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In one new academic paper, an AI model was able to predict whether a cancer patient is at risk of developing wasting disease better than conventional methods.
    Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Such an admission not only upsets the conventional framing of the war, but strikes at the very heart of the Vietnamese Communist Party’s own legitimacy to govern the country.
    Made by History, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Indeed, a 2019 study by the Happiness Research Institute found that 73 percent of people who are happy with their homes also are happier in general.
    Matt Alderton, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • In general, however, Ukraine's natural resources are considered to have signifiant commercial potential.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • About 6 in 10 Asian Americans in the state voted for President Trump over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in November.
    Sarah McCammon, NPR, 2 May 2025
  • However, according to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, that’s not happening.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tesla has been teasing an affordable vehicle for a long time.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Many of our students who are sleeping in their vehicles or other displaced settings are unable to find affordable housing.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • China leads the global production of cheap goods made in large volume, such as dishes and cooking gadgets.
    Pablo Robles, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
  • With police turning a blind eye, Portland became a honeypot for local and out-of-state addicts to score cheap dope and use it freely.
    Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The bookies’ favorite for this year’s race is Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, at 3-1.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • For example, the fires in New Jersey this week have been part of trend: So far in 2025, New Jersey has experienced nearly twice as many wildfires as usual.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Rosemary Oil Shampoo Add a few drops of rosemary oil to your shampoo and wash your hair as usual.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Popular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popular. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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