WHILES Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

whiles

noun

Definition of whiles

plural of while

as in minutes

an indefinite but usually short period of time we stayed at the fair for a while longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in works

the active use of energy in producing a result it's not worth my while to fix it, so we'll get a new one

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 whiles UCHealth’s decision to postpone surgeries whiles staff addressed the sterilization problem stands out from other hospitals that have found themselves in similar situations. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiles

Noun

The heavy use of VAR has also interrupted the flow of games by halting matches that weren’t meant to be halted, leaving everyone standing on the field while the referee goes off to watch TV, sometimes for minutes at a time.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
After having the ball inside Argentina's half of the pitch for seemingly minutes, Switzerland was able to at last generate two decent looks at a goal, but each time the shot was saved by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 July 2026

Definition of minutes

Noun

The global sports market is forecast to be worth more than $600bn by 2030, according to consultancy Kearney, and IBM is far from the only technology company using sport to prove its AI works before selling it elsewhere.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 9 July 2026
There is no doubt that a series of sketches by Lagerfeld, with his incredibly detailed comments, down to the stitches and the buttons to be employed, are definitely art works.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Definition of works

Noun

Unlike previous studies, which examined bits of hair and bone fragments in wolf scat to determine what the animals ate, the UC Davis researchers used DNA analysis to determine the makeup of the samples.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
But as memory makers try to build higher stacks to pack in more bits and bandwidth, experts worry this high bandwidth-memory (HBM) will trap enough heat to cook itself into oblivion.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026

Definition of bits

Noun

Israel says major rehabilitation efforts won’t begin until Hamas is disarmed, and says construction equipment is dual-use and can serve military purposes.

— Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
In other words, companies are expecting more from their comms division and a stronger ability to connect efforts with a bottom line.

— Michelle O'Connor, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of efforts

Noun

The timing of his start Saturday, three days before the Midsummer Classic, suggested as much.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Cholowsky visited Chicago for a few days in early June, talking to coaches and executives, hanging out with players and listening to Jerry Reinsdorf’s baseball stories.

— Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of days

Noun

Having witnessed centuries of religious warfare in Europe, when millions were killed for their beliefs, the framers took pains to make sure nothing like that would happen here.

— Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Perhaps second only to getting sunburned through your favorite white dress, the greatest casualty of summer fashion is the aches and pains brought on by your cutest but least supportive shoes.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Definition of pains

Noun

Ronaldo, 41, one of the most legendary scorers in the history of soccer, burst into tears, soaking up the final moments of the game.

— Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 7 July 2026
This contributed to beautiful surprises, moments of repose, and bold flavors on each day of my visit.

— Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of moments

Browse Nearby Words

while

whiles

whilom

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Whiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiles. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of whiles

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on whiles

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

implacable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes