1
as in buildings
something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity
the only structure on the island is an old Spanish fort—or what's left of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in constructions
something put together by arranging or connecting an array of parts
the Egyptian pyramids are among the most remarkable structures ever built
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in architectures
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form
the basic structure of all those tract houses is the same: basically, a box
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 structures
Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Excavations from 2006 to 2009 have identified the remains of a Byzantine church dating to the fifth century, but farther below, rock-cut structures have been dated to the period when Mary lived there.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Through the compassionate yet rigorous structures of restorative justice and the generosity of two people who might have spent their lives hating him, Dunne changed course.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Inside each camp, sprawls of rickety structures covered with olive-green military tarps housed anywhere from 500 to 3,000 people.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
In 2019, both clubs announced plans to build a new 60,000-seat stadium, though the project stalled due to political opposition and Italy’s heritage regulations, which safeguard historic structures.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Feyerabend said that his reports show that the structures’ walls would need extensive restoration to salvage them.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
The persistence of this military alliance can best be explained by a lack of alternative Atlanticist structures.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Built in the late 19th century, Old Main is the oldest and one of the most recognizable structures on school grounds, often used for major events and university administration.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Those atoms then could bind together, just as Democritus had theorized more than 2000 years before, into the molecules and larger structures that composed our macroscopic world.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Excavations from 2006 to 2009 have identified the remains of a Byzantine church dating to the fifth century, but farther below, rock-cut structures have been dated to the period when Mary lived there.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Through the compassionate yet rigorous structures of restorative justice and the generosity of two people who might have spent their lives hating him, Dunne changed course.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Inside each camp, sprawls of rickety structures covered with olive-green military tarps housed anywhere from 500 to 3,000 people.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
In 2019, both clubs announced plans to build a new 60,000-seat stadium, though the project stalled due to political opposition and Italy’s heritage regulations, which safeguard historic structures.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Feyerabend said that his reports show that the structures’ walls would need extensive restoration to salvage them.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
The persistence of this military alliance can best be explained by a lack of alternative Atlanticist structures.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Built in the late 19th century, Old Main is the oldest and one of the most recognizable structures on school grounds, often used for major events and university administration.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for structures
Noun
-
According to Evers' order, the American flag and the Wisconsin state flag will fly at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the state of Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
All the while, guests learn the lore of the buildings and even attempt to communicate with the spirits that haunt them.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These informed different iterations of down jackets and puffy pants, as well as fun accessories such as scarves, hats, bags and blankets — all spotlighting Raxxy’s knack for 3D constructions, geometric patterns and bold color schemes.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Though data is sparser here, there’s growing evidence that offshore wind farms, port constructions, and subsea pipeline projects use freelance engineers for niche tasks.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Legacy platforms carry decades of product architectures optimized for email, documents, and collaboration as separate entities.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Skunk Works is investing the funds and manpower necessary to build and test survivable systems to meet customers’ evolving needs while broadening alignment with new tri-service architectures and global requirements as they are defined, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The characters are bright, marionette-like caricatures whom the author constructs and moves ostentatiously in full view of the reader, revealing his artistic devices with a sense of absurd, mischievous humor.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The department plans and constructs new freeways, additional lanes and other improvements in the Phoenix area as part of the Regional Transportation Plan for the Maricopa County region.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Though the album’s genres are superficially diverse—you’ll hear flashes of grunge, trap, and, yes, reggae—its arrangements could work fine as royalty-free background music for content creators.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In total, Movistar Plus+ International, the international sales arm of Movistar Plus+, the biggest Spanish pay TV/SVOD operator, has unveiled 35 licensing pacts, some wrapped in co-production arrangements.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than maintaining restrictions that pushed investors toward riskier alternatives, the FCA acknowledged that demand for crypto exposure wouldn't disappear and chose to channel it through proper regulatory frameworks.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
First, regularly remind students and teachers that anything schools try – literacy frameworks, teaching practices, new assessments – is a best guess.—
Justin Reich,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Carbon Markets as Geopolitical Leverage That investor confidence may grow stronger as Beijing builds out the financial plumbing of the transition.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The extension, which builds on a relationship that began in 2018, will focus on delivering connectivity and immersive experiences to NBA fans.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Without their data, infrastructures and skilled personnel, crafting federal policies that serve the best interests of the nation would be impossible.—
Sheldon Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
-
High-performance networking is the crucial element of these infrastructures, and Arista is providing the foundation.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Structures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/structures. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share