as in concurrent
existing or occurring at the same period of time the synchronous arrival of a baby sister and loss of a beloved grandmother strongly affected the child

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective synchronous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of synchronous are coeval, coincident, contemporaneous, contemporary, and simultaneous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

When can coeval be used instead of synchronous?

The words coeval and synchronous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

In what contexts can coincident take the place of synchronous?

The meanings of coincident and synchronous largely overlap; however, coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

When might contemporaneous be a better fit than synchronous?

In some situations, the words contemporaneous and synchronous are roughly equivalent. However, contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is it sensible to use contemporary instead of synchronous?

The synonyms contemporary and synchronous are sometimes interchangeable, but contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

Where would simultaneous be a reasonable alternative to synchronous?

Although the words simultaneous and synchronous have much in common, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

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 synchronous Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA Each spring, the forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park light up with one of nature’s rarest displays—synchronous fireflies. Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 28 Apr. 2025 Set clear deadlines for collecting input and making decisions, create inclusive input-gathering mechanisms (e.g., identifiable and anonymous, synchronous and asynchronous, verbal and written), and plan decision and decision-assessment communication to foster accountability and manage expectations. Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 In such systems, provisioning large workloads with synchronous processing and very low latency requirements can be challenging. Ravi Laudya, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 Usually, migrations do not need synchronous processing and can be handled asynchronously without any manual effort. Ravi Laudya, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for synchronous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for synchronous
Adjective
  • Njuguna received a sentence of 5 to 7 years in state prison for the involuntary manslaughter conviction, with lesser concurrent sentences on the remaining convictions.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
  • Alternative listing strategies—such as concurrent private placements or dual-track processes—may become more prevalent.
    Joseph Lucosky, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With a lockable synchronic-tilt mechanism and special Z-Shape design, the Kaiser 2 can accommodate a weight up to 180kg, quite a bit more than normal mechanisms on office chairs and the back can be reclined to an angle of 160 degrees which can be locked when not in rocking mode.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
  • For his last runway collection, unveiled in September, Michele constructed a parallel universe of side-by-side shows separated by a wall that when lifted revealed twins in identical looks in synchronic stride.
    Colleen Barry, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2022
Adjective
  • The timing of these changes were roughly coincident with clarification of Information Blocking rules and Epic’s introduction of its own competing product.
    Seth Joseph, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
  • Another suggestion is that there were two more or less coincident eruptions, one each in northern and southern hemispheres.
    Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2011
Adjective
  • But the real shift in our space has been the simultaneous demand for and distrust of experts.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • This time, the case moved forward alongside multiple simultaneous investigations and cases in other states, and in 2018, the federal government seized Backpage and it was taken down.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Synchronous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/synchronous. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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