SORT Synonyms: 242 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sort' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character , description , kind , nature , and type . While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement. // the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

Q: In what contexts can 'character' take the place of 'sort'?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type. // research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Q: When is it sensible to use 'description' instead of 'sort'?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined. // not all acts of that description are actually illegal

Q: When might 'kind' be a better fit than 'sort'?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping. // a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

Q: When could 'nature' be used to replace 'sort'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort , nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses. // two problems of a similar nature

Q: When is 'type' a more appropriate choice than 'sort'?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group. // one of three basic body types

Q: How is the word 'sort' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character , description , kind , nature , and type . While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement. // the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

Q: In what contexts can 'character' take the place of 'sort'?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type. // research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Q: When is it sensible to use 'description' instead of 'sort'?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined. // not all acts of that description are actually illegal

Q: When might 'kind' be a better fit than 'sort'?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping. // a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

sort 1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯrt

Definition of sort next

as in kind

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common I prefer jackets with zippers to the sort that close with buttons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in person

a member of the human race he's a decent sort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sort

2 of 2

verb

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type sorted the mail into bills to be paid and junk to be thrown out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to travel

to come or be together as friends you should be careful about whom you sort with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to correspond

to be in agreement on every point that doesn't sort with what you said the last time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character, description, kind, nature, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

one of three basic body types

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 sort

Noun

Less than a month into the Cup Series season, Reddick has established his own three-peat of sorts, the likes of which never has been seen in NASCAR. —

Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026 But the updraft that struck Flight SQ321 was of a more sinister sort. —

Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

Verb

Ask family members to help sort items so decisions about what to keep and what to discard feel less overwhelming. —

Julianna Chen, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026 As a container captain, Essien helps load multiple shipping containers annually that each hold more than 20,000 books, which then are sorted at a warehouse in Atlanta and eventually make their way to Africa. —

Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort

Noun

In the absence of hard data, the kind that become available years or decades after a war, the temptation is to reach for analogies or proverbial wisdom, or any of the other heuristic shortcuts that the psychologist Daniel Kahneman thoroughly described in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow.

— Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Electronics And Tech Many people are guilty of holding onto cords and chargers of all kinds without actually knowing which devices they're associated with.

— Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026

Definition of kind

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sorry

sort

sorted

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“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 7 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of sort

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing sort

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More from Merriam-Webster on sort

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