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

Relevance

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 For over 90 years, the law firm was well-known through Wall Street for steering high-profile corporate litigation such as bankruptcies and mergers. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2026 Wilson has become well-known for regularly giving away gas, groceries, and even cash to potential voters. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Since its opening in 2024, the bakery has become well-known for its savory bagel sandwiches. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 However, whole guava fruit is well-known as an easy way to add vitamin C to your diet. — Sarah Bradley, HEALTH, 22 Oct. 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
  • What to do nearby The reason many people come to this area—situated about 16 miles outside of Zion National Park—is to explore the slot canyons, waterfalls, and viewpoints in one of the US's most famous national parks.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The 2027 event combines over six minutes of totality with some of the very best weather prospects possible, while 2028 offers over five minutes of totality above some of the world's most famous wildernesses and cityscapes.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of famous
Adjective
  • The famed downtown venue is once again operating Thursdays to Sunday, but many have been unaware.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Archaeologists have finally cracked the code to the famed Ann Francis shipwreck’s brass combination treasure lock.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of famed
Adjective
  • One of India's oldest and most prominent industry bodies, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, last week asked the government appealing to abolish the tax.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Vancouver Canucks’ Jake DeBrusk, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Dmitri Voronkov are among his most prominent wingers available, but the possibilities needn’t be limited to that list.
    — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of prominent
Adjective
  • That’s about one-eighth the annual budget of its counterpart in the United Kingdom, which is far less celebrated for its frontier technologies.
    — Garance Burke, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The league was wise to send two of its most celebrated emissaries this time around.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of celebrated
Adjective
  • Mekouar was nominated for the First Novel Award by the renowned French literary organization Goncourt Academy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas has become arguably one of the most renowned stop-motion-animation films.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of renowned
Adjective
  • Newsom’s blanket commutation request includes notorious prisoners like Charles Ng, Richard Allen Davis, and Cary Stayner.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Pink Floyd is notorious for not having professionally recorded very many, if any, concerts in the mid- and late ’70s, but this bootleg is said to have mixed and mastered to a level close enough to pro standards for an official release.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of notorious

Browse Nearby Words

welling (up)
well-known
well-meaning
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Well-known.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-known. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of valorous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All