Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

popular

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of popular

1 enjoying widespread favor or approval
  • an actor who was popular in the 1990s
Synonyms of popular

big, faddish, faddy, fashionable, favorite, happening, hot, in, modish, pop, popularized, red-hot, vogue, voguish
Words Related to popular

semipopular

preferred, selected

desirable, liked, wanted

celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, well-known

fabled, fabulous, legendary

leading, notable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable
Near Antonyms of popular

washed-up

despised, detested, disliked, hated, rejected

anonymous, nameless, obscure, unknown

inconspicuous
Antonyms of popular

out, unfashionable, unpopular
2 accepted, used, or practiced by most people
  • the popular custom of exchanging greeting cards during the holiday season
Synonyms of popular

conventional, current, customary, going, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual
Words Related to popular

average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary

regular, routine

epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread

accustomed, wonted

fashionable, in, modish, stylish
Near Antonyms of popular

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon
Antonyms of popular

nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual
3 held by or applicable to a majority of the people
  • Popular opinion on that issue has changed dramatically over the years.
Synonyms of popular

common, general, majority, overall, prevailing, public, received, ruling, vulgar
Words Related to popular

unanimous, universal

pop

everyday, familiar, household, usual, well-known

dominant, predominant, preponderant

characteristic, typical

pandemic, pervasive, prevalent, rife, widespread

communal, shared
Near Antonyms of popular

rare, strange, unknown, unusual

distinctive, especial, idiosyncratic, peculiar, special, unique

individual, separate, singular
Antonyms of popular

uncommon, unpopular
4 of, relating to, or favoring political democracy
  • a truly popular revolution, not one that replaced one dictatorship with another
Synonyms of popular

democratic, republican, self-governing, self-ruling
Words Related to popular

representative

libertarian, nontotalitarian
Near Antonyms of popular

autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, monarchal (or monarchial), monarchical (also monarchic), tyrannical (also tyrannic)
Antonyms of popular

nondemocratic, undemocratic
5 being within the financial means of most people
  • electronics being sold directly to consumers at popular prices
Synonyms of popular

accessible, affordable
Words Related to popular

bargain-basement, budget, cheap, discount, inexpensive, low, low-end, rock-bottom

moderate, modest, reasonable
Near Antonyms of popular

costly, dear, expensive, high, high-end, upscale
6 costing little
  • We also have the popular models, for those who prefer not to invest too much in a new TV.
Synonyms of popular

affordable, bargain-basement, budget, cheap, cheapie, cheapo, chintzy, cut-rate, inexpensive, low, low-end, reasonable
Words Related to popular

cheapish, moderate

discount, discounted, fire-sale, lowered, reduced

wholesale

valueless, worthless

supercheap, ultracheap
Near Antonyms of popular

increased, inflated

exorbitant, extravagant, overpriced, prohibitive, prohibitory, steep, stiff, superexpensive, ultraexpensive, unreasonable

invaluable, priceless

luxurious
Antonyms of popular

costly, dear, deluxe, expensive, high, high-ticket, precious, premium, pricey (also pricy), valuable

Synonym Discussion of popular

common, ordinary, plain, familiar, popular, vulgar mean generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual. common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence
    • a common error
    • lacked common honesty
and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.
    • common manners
ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.
    • an ordinary pleasant summer day
    • a very ordinary sort of man
plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.
    • plain hard-working people
familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.
    • a familiar melody
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
vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).
    • souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

Learn More about popular

  1. Dictionary: Definition of popular Spanish Central: Translation of popular Nglish: Translation of popular for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of popular for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up popular? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games