RECENT Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

recent

adjective

Definition of recent

as in latest

happening or beginning not long ago Recent events have brought attention to the problem. I usually watch that show every week, but I missed the most recent episode. Medical science has made amazing progress in recent decades.

Related Words

Relevance

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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 recent The recent saga is just the latest in a long list of lawsuits regarding NCAA eligibility disputes. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 In recent years, other actors on young adult shows have reached out to Stokes for advice on how to handle the rapid change. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026 Notable Turnover in US boardrooms has slowed, a recent Spencer Stuart analysis found, with this year marking the fewest number of new director appointments to S&P 500 companies for at least a decade. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026 In the wake of the most recent rulings, Hoskins has repeatedly boasted about his wins in court. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recent

Adjective

The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
The American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.

— Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023

Definition of latest

Adjective

On the current forecast track, rain and gusty winds will arrive to the Big Island Saturday night and continue through the beginning of next week.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that American negotiators had agreed to lower the current tariffs on cars and metals from 25% to 15%.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of current

Adjective

In July, Heated Rivalry actor Hudson Williams was spotted in Seoul wearing a pair of calf-length white shorts from Descalco, a new swimwear brand that launches this week.

— Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
Conceptually inspired by the 1989 Pininfarina Mythos, the Kode89 utilizes a new proprietary aluminum spaceframe and a carbon-fiber body.

— Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of new

Adjective

Though the building is clearly old (it was built in 1913), its shutters are a curiously contemporary shade of blue, sitting brightly next to the terra-cotta roof.

— Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
The hard-edge suitcase is now a coffee table that sits in the living room between the wood-burning fireplace and a sofa that’s the only significant piece of contemporary furniture.

— Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemporary

Adjective

Foreman said Florida's late-summer primary date can make generating voter enthusiasm particularly challenging.

— Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
The deal is Nvidia's latest in a string of financing maneuvers to support the sprawling AI data center buildout, despite concerns over circular financing in the AI trade.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of late

Adjective

There’s a keen juxtaposition of the old and the modern throughout this part of Edinburgh, where buildings made of ancient volcanic sandstone accommodate hip boutiques like record store Underground Solu'shn and coffee shops like The Milkman.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Okuyama emphasizes a focus on lightweight construction and a direct human connection, using traditional craftsmanship alongside modern tech.

— Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

Black Americans were struggling against the legacy of Jim Crow, and Abdeen interned with Ernest Goodman, a civil-rights lawyer who was reviving the National Lawyers Guild, a collective of progressive legal professionals.

— Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Several political programs returned to the chart this quarter, including Mark Levin Podcast, Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar, The David Pakman Show, Pivot, and Piers Morgan Uncensored, spanning both progressive and conservative audiences.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of progressive

Browse Nearby Words

receiving

recent

recently

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“Recent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recent. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of recent

adjective

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