RENOWNED Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'renowned' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of renowned are celebrated , distinguished , eminent , famous , illustrious , noted , and notorious . While all these words mean "known far and wide," renowned implies more glory and acclamation. // one of the most renowned figures in sports history

Q: In what contexts can 'celebrated' take the place of 'renowned'?

In some situations, the words celebrated and renowned are roughly equivalent. However, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. // the most celebrated beauty of her day

Q: When might 'distinguished' be a better fit than 'renowned'?

While the synonyms distinguished and renowned are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority. // a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

Q: When is it sensible to use 'eminent' instead of 'renowned'?

The synonyms eminent and renowned are sometimes interchangeable, but eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character. // the country's most eminent writers

Q: When is 'famous' a more appropriate choice than 'renowned'?

The words famous and renowned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known. // a famous actress

Q: When can 'illustrious' be used instead of 'renowned'?

Although the words illustrious and renowned have much in common, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person. // illustrious war heroes

Q: When would 'noted' be a good substitute for 'renowned'?

While in some cases nearly identical to renowned , noted suggests well-deserved public attention. // the noted mystery writer

Q: How do 'notorious' and 'famous' relate to one another, in the sense of 'renowned'?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil. // a notorious gangster

Q: How is the word 'renowned' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of renowned are celebrated , distinguished , eminent , famous , illustrious , noted , and notorious . While all these words mean "known far and wide," renowned implies more glory and acclamation. // one of the most renowned figures in sports history

Q: In what contexts can 'celebrated' take the place of 'renowned'?

In some situations, the words celebrated and renowned are roughly equivalent. However, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. // the most celebrated beauty of her day

renowned 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈnau̇nd

Definition of renowned next

as in famous

widely known the renowned painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer, Leonardo da Vinci

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

renowned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of renown

as in acclaimed

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How is the word renowned different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of renowned are celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famous, illustrious, noted, and notorious. While all these words mean "known far and wide," renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

In what contexts can celebrated take the place of renowned?

In some situations, the words celebrated and renowned are roughly equivalent. However, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When might distinguished be a better fit than renowned?

While the synonyms distinguished and renowned are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

When is it sensible to use eminent instead of renowned?

The synonyms eminent and renowned are sometimes interchangeable, but eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When is famous a more appropriate choice than renowned?

The words famous and renowned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When can illustrious be used instead of renowned?

Although the words illustrious and renowned have much in common, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When would noted be a good substitute for renowned?

While in some cases nearly identical to renowned, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

How do notorious and famous relate to one another, in the sense of renowned?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

How is the word renowned different from other adjectives like it?

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

In what contexts can celebrated take the place of renowned?

In some situations, the words celebrated and renowned are roughly equivalent. However, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When might distinguished be a better fit than renowned?

While the synonyms distinguished and renowned are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

When is it sensible to use eminent instead of renowned?

The synonyms eminent and renowned are sometimes interchangeable, but eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When is famous a more appropriate choice than renowned?

The words famous and renowned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When can illustrious be used instead of renowned?

Although the words illustrious and renowned have much in common, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When would noted be a good substitute for renowned?

While in some cases nearly identical to renowned, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

How do notorious and famous relate to one another, in the sense of renowned?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

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 renowned

Adjective

Bonci was started in Rome by renowned pizza maker Gabriele Bonci. —

Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026 Sundresses Santa Teresa is renowned for being a pocket of heaven, with a lifestyle of yoga, fishing, surfing, and scuba diving, as well as a thriving food scene. —

Natalie Hammond, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2026 Unfolding in 1870s Oxford with adventures abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident. —

Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026 Forbes has named the renowned Dallas firm Bernbaum/Magadini Architects to its exclusive Forbes America’s Top 200 Residential Architects, a new national recognition that celebrates excellence, innovation and leadership in single-family residential architecture across the country. —

Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for renowned

Recent Examples of Synonyms for renowned

Adjective

Although the majority of the missiles aimed at Dubai have been intercepted, the attacks have damaged some of its most famous landmarks, including the five-star Fairmont The Palm and Jumeirah Burj Al Arab hotel.

— Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Locals boast that their cielo tejido is world famous, and once even went on display in Dubai.

— Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Definition of famous

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“Renowned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/renowned. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 10 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of renowned

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