1
2
3
4
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

5
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

6

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 Bringing Gemini to Chrome could help Google’s chatbot gain greater exposure since Chrome has long been the most popular desktop browser. Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025 The existence of the tax credit is a huge selling-point for many popular EVs. Charles Singh, USA Today, 20 May 2025 The news comes roughly one month after the Season 3 finale of the popular drama series, which aired on April 13. Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 May 2025 The directive of cardio in popular culture has always been burning calories, which is about weight loss. Mara Gordon, NPR, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for popular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popular
Adjective
  • Original price: $40 (Abercrombie & Fitch) A fashionable, heavyweight cropped tee from Abercrombie & Fitch is the definition of style meets comfort.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 23 May 2025
  • The Pitch Perfect actress played the flamboyantly fashionable Capitol chaperone for all four Hunger Games films until 2015.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Though conventional stretch offers the wearer many advantages—like asset enhancing fits and more mobility, for example—the environment pays the price as elastane is, essentially, plastic.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025
  • On conventional comedies, actors break from time to time, and those outtakes usually end up in the credits.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • The country’s powerful military is run by the general Asim Munir, known for his hardline stance on India.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
  • Granlund was averaging approximately 1 point a game for the San Jose Sharks when Stars general manager Jim Nill sent the Sharks first- and third-round picks for Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci on Feb. 1.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • The reporters agreed to those terms and Cohen gave them court records showing that Marlene Johnson, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, had been charged with unlawful assembly and petit theft about a dozen years earlier.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
  • Chen, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, found the government hadn’t shown any harm caused by keeping the program alive.
    Time, Time, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The brand makes our favorite down comforter, the best budget bamboo sheets, and the best affordable linen sheets.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 22 May 2025
  • The NIMBYs will scream and cry about it for a little while, but ultimately what the community will remember is how hundreds of new affordable units became available where once there were a bunch of trucks.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Three or four people to one cabin was far cheaper than the same number of people booking three or four plane tickets to get to Spain.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • Once delivered, framing and panel assembly are faster and cheaper than conventional builds—cutting structural build time by 40% and labor costs by 20%.
    Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Series regular Tony Todd, who died last fall, returns for a touching posthumous scene that references another fan favorite character.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • No defense adjustments to deal with Collier and Arike inconsistent freelancing as usual.
    Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • No doubt this has had an impact on his play in the second major of the season, where his driving has been far from his usual quality.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Popular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popular. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on popular

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!