WELL-KNOWN Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

well-known

adjective

ˈwel-ˈnōn

Definition of well-known

as in famous

widely known an anchorwoman so well-known that she passes for a local celebrity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Morticia Elegant, mysterious, and with a flair for the dramatic—Morticia Addams may be one of the best and most well-known gothic heroines in pop culture. — Anna Earl, Parents, 5 Sep. 2026 Davis, 55, was the founder of a company caller Airbrush Junkies and was well-known as a portrait painter, The Nassau Guardian reported. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 But in recent years, Flock cameras have become the most well-known – and controversial – of the systems. — Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026 During her final decades, Yayoi Kusama, who died last week at 97, was most well-known for her Infinity Rooms and the lines of fans waiting to take selfies inside. — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for well-known

Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-known

Adjective

Emilia Clarke and Emma D’Arcy, famous for playing Targaryen baddies, presented an award at the ceremony.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
To mark the beginning of the new football season, SI Swimsuit reshared photos Monday of NFL significant others who have posed for the famous swimwear issue, including Brittany Mahomes.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of famous

Adjective

The designer brought together an A-list crowd for his spectacle of a New York Fashion Week show at the famed Plaza Hotel in Midtown Manhattan Thursday afternoon.

— Anika Reed, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
The hub, which opened in 2025, is housed in a 1940s home formerly owned by the famed Toso glassmaking family.

— Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of famed

Adjective

Lévêque was once a prominent figure of the French and European art scene, known for his neon sculptures, which have been exhibited in major global institutions, including the Louvre and the Elysée Palace—the residence of French presidents.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
In order to create the experience, the outlet will focus on the famous Red and Blue kitchens, show experiences, and a prominent bar that begs you to join us for a drink.

— Carly Sauvageau, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of prominent

Adjective

Big names holding the pen Some celebrated playwrights are theater categories unto themselves.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Rising from an impoverished background to become a celebrated stage star in Romania, the actress and directing debutante has defied all odds to reach the starry heights of the Lido.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of celebrated

Adjective

There’s the liberal-arts college, and then there’s the renowned music conservatory.

— Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Epicureans will appreciate exclusive dinners with chefs and wine-tasting excursions in a Maltese vineyard, while visits to the ateliers of internationally renowned artists, designers, and perfumiers personalize shopping opportunities.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of renowned

Adjective

Bohm was speeding in his BMW on Dead Man's Curve, a notorious stretch of Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
In its early decades, the hotel hosted the notable and the notorious of Gilded Age New York, evolving alongside Herald Square and spending its later years as the Hotel Metro.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of notorious

Browse Nearby Words

welling (up)

well-known

well-meaning

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“Well-known.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-known. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of well-known

adjective

Example Sentences

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