1
as in open
not known by only a select few
the mayor's plans to retire have been public knowledge for some time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unrestricted
freely available for use or participation by all
a public swimming pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in national
of or relating to a nation
a trade agreement in the public interest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in general
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
public sentiment was against the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group
public transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
the highbrows have always disdained his novels, but the public just eats them up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of public
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
Fleming, in fact, loathes the idea of his own podcast and the prospect of sitting and chatting endlessly about his private life for public consumption.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
More importantly, the romance of the blockade seems to have darkened the German public’s opinion of the coal industry, hastening the nation’s green transition.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public
Adjective
Post-workout or post-treatment options include a 66-foot indoor infinity pool, an outdoor sundeck, a sauna (steam for women, dry for men), and a public bath.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026
Fleming, in fact, loathes the idea of his own podcast and the prospect of sitting and chatting endlessly about his private life for public consumption.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
Gobert, with whom Anderson had a public, in-game spat in the regular season finale of the 2022-23 campaign, became a close friend and dinner buddy the following year.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
More importantly, the romance of the blockade seems to have darkened the German public’s opinion of the coal industry, hastening the nation’s green transition.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public
Adjective
-
When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
-
With Latinos comprising a plurality of California’s population, the absence of a leading candidate of color reflects broader institutional shortcomings rather than problems created by an open field.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Patterson, who made 27 of 29 field goals, is an unrestricted free agent.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Middleton is in the final months of his expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, which gives him the opportunity to negotiate a new contract with the Mavericks or sign with a new team.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
White previously served as national executive director and chief negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Batson has pulled in record philanthropic donations, including $50 million from Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank for a new national training center in Atlanta, and $30 million from Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang for women’s and girls’ programs.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And there is a general lack of a clear approach.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Major rainfall in December and early February created ideal breeding conditions, said Susanne Kluh, general manager for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of the most accomplished producers and engineers in modern music — with 31 collective Grammy Awards and credits on more than 7,000 recordings — have come together to offer candid insights on the craft of engineering music’s most storied recordings with this new discussion series.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Rather, Hawai’i’s collective wisdom was contained within chants, mythology, family lore, and ancient stories passed down orally from one generation to the next.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But the hard part is working alongside third-party manufacturers such as TSMC to ensure the chips get into production smoothly and actually work in the real world once they're fabricated.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Americans and others in the developed world also have exploited efficiencies in power use that have allowed major economies to grow without creating commensurate demands for electrical power.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That combination makes for a happy society and ensures a populace that drives a productive economy for years to come.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The announcers need to study intensely, learning details not only about an athlete, but what a particular sport means to the populace of a country halfway around the world.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
An impressive 86 Grammys will be handed out pre-broadcast.—
Maria Sherman,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Framed as a broadcast true crime documentary made after Salazar’s trial, this brilliant lo-fi effort enlists several more talking heads to balance out the whodunnit.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Public.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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