well-known

adjective

ˈwel-ˈnōn How to pronounce well-known (audio)
Definition of well-knownnext
as in famous
widely known an anchorwoman so well-known that she passes for a local celebrity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 well-known Vaughn argues that even though artists such as McQueen are equally as well-known as Hirst and Emin, they are rarely featured in the same context as the YBAs. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Diana, the mother of Princes William and Harry, was well-known for her fashionable style during her lifetime. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 Naturally, that infatuation translated into a very cool stage name — a name that is becoming rightfully well-known. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 Benedikt Taschen is well-known for buying and then putting his own stylish touch on architecturally significant homes. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for well-known
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-known
  1. famous
  2. famed
  3. prominent
  4. celebrated
  5. renowned
  6. notorious
Adjective
  • The person answering questions needn't be famous; just someone who has done the thing.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Shahzada was a history buff, so the family had been to Lebanon to see the ancient Cedars of God forest that the Phoenicians had used to build their ships, becoming the Med’s most famous seafarers.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of famous
Adjective
  • Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the famed hospitality design studio, interiors take inspiration from Easy Rider and the mythology of the American road trip.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • During the famed 1969 Apollo 11 mission, Hamilton’s software overrode an errant attempt to swap the flight computer’s primary processing to a radar system.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of famed
Adjective
  • The Blocks are a prominent Hamburg family best known for their popular national steakhouse chain Block House.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Being able to recruit a prominent voice cast that includes Abbi Jacobson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston also helped the film travel.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of prominent
Adjective
  • The story follows a celebrated pediatric heart surgeon whose daughter falls prey to a vengeful ghost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Sandy Powell, who is in the film, became a celebrated costume designer, and one of her first breaks was through Derek’s films.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of celebrated
Adjective
  • Kevin Kwan created an irresistible world filled with the perfect blend of glitz, humor, and heart, and the talented Adele Lim returns to adapt this renowned tale for a new television audience.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Godrich — renowned for his work with Radiohead, Beck, and Paul McCartney, along with playing in Atoms for Peace with Thom Yorke and Flea — was looking to step back a bit.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of renowned
Adjective
  • Since then, the once-notorious prison closed its death chamber and Newsom has upheld it as a model of rehabilitation.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This blob of exceptionally warm water formed by spinning off of the Gulf’s Loop Current that is notorious for boosting hurricane strength.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of notorious

Browse Nearby Words

welling (up)
well-known
well-meaning
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Cite this Entry

“Well-known.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-known. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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