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sort

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verb

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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

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
Then there’s Penn, whose Lockjaw is a hateful, venomous sort who’s easy to hate. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025 At the same time, you guys have become celebrities of a sort. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Better today than 20 years from now, when there are a hundred more racks to sort. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 Chaos is sorted into appreciable story arcs without diluting its overwhelming effect on our heroes. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort
Noun
  • The players have responded to that unrelenting positivity in kind.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • These sauces are perfect for pasta bakes, homemade pizzas, and quick weeknight dinners of all kinds.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Additionally, in some cases, social media can largely replace a user's in-person interactions, leaving them socially isolated, some experts added.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine Measles is highly contagious and can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, the CDC said.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the time, that specimen was classified as Harpiola grisea, a related species.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and other federal law enforcement agencies also would participate in investigations, and Attorney General Pam Bondi is directed to submit a list of groups to classify as domestic terrorist organizations.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Even on Tuesday morning, mere days before the Vikings’ 195-or-so-person traveling party arrives, Martin was sorting through specifics.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • In March, a large sinkhole opened up in front of a motorcyclist traveling in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Crucially, these dates correspond to important dynastic events that the hieroglyphs omit — filling in the puzzle pieces scholars had been missing.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
  • There was another threepeat in the women’s 4x100m thanks to the quadrant of Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Twanisha Terry, Kayla White and Sha’Carri Richardson before a rousing finish from reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles saw the US defeat Canada in the corresponding men’s event.
    Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The guy in Germany offered me a job.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Why does this guy — who seems nice enough and does have a generational voice but mostly just stood there and waved at phone cameras — have one of the biggest songs in the world and people going absolutely feral for him?
    Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kevin Seitzer joined this season as hitting coach, and the team now ranks 10th overall in runs scored.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • According to Jackpot Data, which is officially recording casinos' payouts logged for taxes and regulation, researchers ranked America’s casinos from the luckiest to least lucky, using the size of the highest jackpot ever recorded at each location.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Starbucks is facing multiple employee complaints and lawsuits across the United States over the rollout of a new dress code and the expenses associated with it.
    John Toher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The five new products are designed to address challenges associated with protective hairstyles and extensions.
    Caché McClay, USA Today, 21 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.

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