1
as in organizations
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest
a debate society
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in civilizations
the way people live at a particular time and place
a pre-automobile society in which ordinary people rarely strayed far from home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of societies
The defining risk facing advanced societies in the coming decades is not collapse from external pressure.
—
Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Her uncle, Lee Kuan Yew, was Singapore’s first prime minister, credited with setting down an approach to economic development that helped make the city-state one of Asia’s richest and most developed societies.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 1 June 2026
While modern technology has changed civilization, many ancient societies developed solutions to complex problems using knowledge and techniques that were astonishingly advanced for their era.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
The central question, then, is whether democratic societies will shape AI before firms and technologists define its terms for everyone else.
—Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026
Pratchett uses both characters to explore the gap between true leadership and mere politicking, suggesting that societies need ideals of justice but frown on the people who step up to enforce them.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Xi must know that old societies tend to be pacific and that China is getting old fast.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Then, five thousand or so years ago, after agriculture spread and prehistory gave way to history, hierarchies emerged, dividing our societies into groups—the socioeconomic élites and everyone else.
—Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
The program, as its name suggests, sends experts on relatively short expeditions to critically important field sites worldwide to deepen understanding the overlap of biodiversity, healthy ecosystems and human societies.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Her uncle, Lee Kuan Yew, was Singapore’s first prime minister, credited with setting down an approach to economic development that helped make the city-state one of Asia’s richest and most developed societies.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 1 June 2026
While modern technology has changed civilization, many ancient societies developed solutions to complex problems using knowledge and techniques that were astonishingly advanced for their era.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
The central question, then, is whether democratic societies will shape AI before firms and technologists define its terms for everyone else.
—Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026
Pratchett uses both characters to explore the gap between true leadership and mere politicking, suggesting that societies need ideals of justice but frown on the people who step up to enforce them.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Xi must know that old societies tend to be pacific and that China is getting old fast.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Then, five thousand or so years ago, after agriculture spread and prehistory gave way to history, hierarchies emerged, dividing our societies into groups—the socioeconomic élites and everyone else.
—Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
The program, as its name suggests, sends experts on relatively short expeditions to critically important field sites worldwide to deepen understanding the overlap of biodiversity, healthy ecosystems and human societies.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for societies
Noun
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Aside from many religious organizations, local grant recipients include Girl Scouts of San Diego-Imperial Council, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and San Diego LGBTQ Community Center.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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The award places the AJC alongside leading national media organizations, with this year’s category featuring nominees from ABC News, National Geographic and MSNOW.—
Hugo Rojo,
AJC.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
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China has argued, based on that find, that the lower Yangtze region was home to one of the earliest urban civilizations on Earth.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
1 June 2026
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Iranian scientists theorized that the other advanced civilizations in our galaxy may have already died out.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Most recently, late neoliberalism revived a central aspect of 1970s pluralism, retooled as representative diversity—once again under the pressure of political activism, which reckoned with decades of racially exclusionary collecting, exhibiting, and hiring practices at art institutions.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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The project has received support from several Spanish institutions, including the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) through the RENMARINAS program.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Charlotte’s strongest school districts span very different lifestyles, from in-town historic neighborhoods to lakeside suburbs.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
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That roof capacity matters because Subaru buyers actually use these vehicles for outdoor lifestyles.—
Tim Jackson,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Noun
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The march was organized by the Confederation of Chilean Students and supported by other organizations, including the Teachers’ Union, secondary school student associations, and feminist groups.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
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Kenjura said neighborhood homeowners’ associations can adopt rules to limit the use of electric mobility devices, but only if the HOA owns and maintains the streets and sidewalks.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Organizers have the teams represent particular countries to show the diverse cultures that are represented in the Kansas City community.—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
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Her bacteria cultures could become a fragrance or an image, or all of the above.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
Noun
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But a growing number of college presidents are beginning to develop faculty institutes that train professors on how to create climates of openness that can absorb students’ discomfort and disagreement, as well as direct students to tackle real-world problems together.—
Rajiv Vinnakota,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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That has shifted in the last few decades, with the emergence of several institutes offering advanced studies in Jewish religious texts to women.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Over this week, 61 Catholic brotherhoods snake through the city along the official parade route to Seville's Gothic cathedral and then back to their home churches.—
Alexis Marshall,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
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Those meaningful bonds, or brotherhoods, are constantly at risk of being curtailed.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Societies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/societies. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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