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Synonym Chooser

How is the word valid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of valid are cogent, convincing, sound, and telling. While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent
a valid marriage

When might cogent be a better fit than valid?

While in some cases nearly identical to valid, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

When is convincing a more appropriate choice than valid?

Although the words convincing and valid have much in common, convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

In what contexts can sound take the place of valid?

While the synonyms sound and valid are close in meaning, sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

Where would telling be a reasonable alternative to valid?

The words telling and valid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

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 valid Present a valid military ID at any participating Scooter's Coffee location to redeem this offer. Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025 The winner will be randomly drawn from all valid entries received and shall be notified by Future by a social media post within 28 days of the closing date, and will be required to supply details of a US delivery address. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025 Your 20 profit boost tokens will be valid for 14 days, and they can be used for bets up to $25 on any market. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 The offer will be valid up to 100,000 redemptions, equating to roughly $5 million. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for valid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for valid
Adjective
  • Not even a meta ending that pushes that idea to its logical breaking point can sour you on it.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To be fair, public entities have been stretching public records trade secret exceptions to logical extremes long before college athletes started getting paid—and these carve-outs are often intended to be permissive.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The full selection, including Bib Gourmand restaurants (an honor that highlights restaurants offering high-quality food at reasonable prices), recognizes 228 restaurants spanning 44 cuisine types, shining a national and international spotlight on the varied cuisines and talented chefs of the South.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The Penguins have a pretty reasonable amount of depth on the blue line, especially on the right side, which would make that move easier to absorb.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Lizzo’s understanding of a litany of online phrases is coherent enough, albeit overwhelming to hear all in succession.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
  • When your nervous system is coherent, time slows down.
    Big Think, Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The ledger is the foundation of reasoned conclusion.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The differences between any given Grokipedia and Wikipedia entry are in some sense hard to debate because there is no shared ground upon which to have a reasoned disagreement; to gravitate toward Grokipedia is to leave the world of evidence for that of belief.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Eggers' stunning visuals and meticulous pace draw viewers into their increasingly desperate mania, gradually wedging open the door between rational interpretation and supernatural inescapability.
    Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The results showed that the chimps’ decisions aligned with rational patterns of belief revision.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • However, on his eighth touch, Payne turned a good play into a disaster.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Arsenal’s second-half performance here was arguably their best of the campaign.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • At 48 percent off, the traveler-adored Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is an excellent, sensible gift that can function as both a personal item and an everyday sightseeing tote.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Understanding the absurdity of one trillion anything makes the $38 trillion US national debt that economists have been blathering on about for years look almost sensible.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Valid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/valid. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on valid

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