simplicity

noun

sim-ˈpli-sə-tē How to pronounce simplicity (audio)
Definition of simplicitynext
1
as in plainness
the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements the machine was designed with a simplicity that should ensure ease of use by almost anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clarity
clearness of expression the simplicity of this poem is beautiful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment the stupefying simplicity of the generals who thought that war would be over in a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere answered the judge's questions with childlike simplicity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 simplicity The idea of marrying Netflix-like simplicity with the premium content everyone already watched wasn’t novel. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026 While Van Patten’s current makeup routine is all about simplicity, that wasn’t always the case. — Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Her ideals of Christian humility and simplicity and service are genuine. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 Clinamen @ The Park Avenue Armory Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s Clinamen was mesmerizing in its simplicity. — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for simplicity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for simplicity
  1. plainness
  2. clarity
  3. insanity
  4. naturalness
  5. unity
  6. madness
  7. innocence
  8. uniformity
Noun
  • The sheer fact of filming fills a frame, even one composed with quasi-documentary plainness, with a plethora of details of narrative, expressive, aesthetic, intellectual, and historical import.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
  • To understand why men might have adopted a clothing system that prioritized plainness and conformity over color and change, this book investigates the gradual crystallization of this civic uniform of masculinity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Definition of plainness
Noun
  • Jordan Lyle out The Hurricanes on Thursday officially ruled out Jordan Lyle for Friday’s game against Stanford as the junior running back continues to await legal clarity following his August arrest.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Will banning phones bring real-world clarity and connection to kids’ lives, or deprive them of one of their last routes to autonomy in a claustrophobic world?
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of clarity
Noun
  • Clancy was tried in a Massachusetts court of law, one of the few venues where defendants such as Clancy enjoy the presumption of proof for pleas of insanity, once they are allowed to make such a plea.
    — Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Judge Andy Porter found Tracy Walters not guilty by reason of insanity in the December 2021 killing of Cynthia Cervantes, a social worker and Navy veteran.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • Acted with breathtaking ensemble naturalness, the play seems lived in rather than performed.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The ensemble of actors is convincing in its naturalness, with the characterizations remaining consistently precise and ambivalent.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of naturalness
Noun
  • Bum-seok, Sung-ae, and Sung-ki do find a shambolic Hawksian unity, after a fashion; Sung-ae, in particular, has only to step out of a car with a military-grade rifle to elicit spontaneous applause.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The crossover nature of the track also served as a symbol for unity between the two cultures, Hajjar noted.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of unity
Noun
  • Like the real-life star of such films as Black Swan, M is a former child actor whose film roles include a ballerina who descends into madness.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As dark occurrences begin to shatter the quiet of their isolated home, the boy is forced to navigate a harrowing psychological nightmare where the line between real-world madness and supernatural terror blurs.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • That raw innocence would prove crucial to Zai’s character, who experiences a gamut of violations masked as privilege.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Adelson family had long denied any involvement in Markel’s killing, and in August 2016, their lawyer released a statement maintaining their innocence.
    — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of innocence
Noun
  • Proponents have said the changes would bring uniformity to the zoning code — in line with what’s allowed on adjacent Calle Ocho — to allow for new development and more housing in Little Havana.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That’s mainly because such splits undermine national uniformity, the legal principle that federal law should apply consistently nationwide and not benefit or hurt parties based on where their case happens to be litigated.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of uniformity

Browse Nearby Words

simpletons
simplicity
simplification
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Simplicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/simplicity. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stigma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All