universal

adjective

ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl How to pronounce universal (audio)
Definition of universalnext
1
as in versatile
able to do many different kinds of things a universal wrench

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in general
belonging or relating to the whole mankind's universal need for affection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in comprehensive
covering everything or all important points the genius of Leonardo da Vinci was universal: he was an artist, an architect, an engineer, and a scientist, among other things

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ubiquitous
present in all places and at all times after the home team won the national championship, throughout the city a sense of pride was as universal as the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 universal Spoken instruction and sharing intentions through speech isn’t even universal among humans, let alone unique to our species. — Mike McRae 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026 And when scores of families fall off SNAP, universal free meal programs at tens of thousands of schools fall into jeopardy. — Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026 Crowe commented that Rodrigo and Fleetwood Mac have both been able to make songs that feel universal. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 Over time, access to these tools will become nearly universal. — Mike Vietri, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for universal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for universal
  1. versatile
  2. general
  3. comprehensive
  4. ubiquitous
  5. adaptable
  6. generic
  7. global
  8. widespread
Adjective
  • The club see him as a versatile player who fits their tactical system and possesses significant potential.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • From anti-theft purses that look like chic handbags to polished trousers that feel more like comfy sweatpants, these styles are versatile, functional, and comfortable to boot—and prices start at just $8.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of versatile
Adjective
  • The widespread belief was Clippers general manager Trent Redden would fill that role, but the team has not publicly revealed its plans.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • That equation represents a much more general concept that can be applied to all sorts of figures and spatial dimensions.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • In its comprehensive plan, the city of Eagle identifies the BLM land Bobo is cleaning up as a major component of the Foothills, calling for public lands to be incorporated into a larger open-space and wildlife-corridor network.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026
  • MacGregor has signed contracts with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard to supply comprehensive roll-on/roll-off equipment for the two vessels, marking one of its most extensive scopes for roll-on/roll-off passenger ferries to date.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of comprehensive
Adjective
  • Sponsorships are ubiquitous in baseball, and that certainly applies to the independent leagues, where the first pitch, the final out, the stadium names, and the foul poles are often named.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In 1971, the company introduced the Quotron 800, a green-screen CRT monitor that became ubiquitous on Wall Street in the 1970s and 1980s.
    — Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • The obvious comparison with Anthony Gordon has been made by pundits and there are parallels with the adaptable forward Newcastle sold to Barcelona in May for up to €80million.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Whether dressed up with a blazer or kept casual with a tank top, jorts are adaptable, which is a major part of their appeal.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of adaptable
Adjective
  • The survey found that voters favored a generic Democratic candidate for Congress over a Republican 46% to 40%, but the Democratic advantage expanded to 11 points among those who definitely plan to vote.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The result is an illusion of depth that ultimately spits out the exact same generic, corner-cutting structure.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of generic
Adjective
  • The industry moves more than 80 percent of global trade by volume.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • India's quarterly economic growth has exceeded expectations several times over the past year, defying a bleak global trade environment, high energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of global
Adjective
  • There has been a widespread opinion that football has become too rigid and regimented in recent seasons, but Luis Enrique’s PSG are one of the few antidotes to that.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Millions of people live in or near bear habitat across the Rockies, where widespread drought has reduced supplies of nuts, berries and plants that bears eat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of widespread

Browse Nearby Words

unity
universal
universally
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Cite this Entry

“Universal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/universal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on universal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about universal

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