COEVAL Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'coeval' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of coeval are coincident , contemporaneous , contemporary , simultaneous , and synchronous . While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons. // two stars thought to be coeval

Q: In what contexts can 'coincident' take the place of 'coeval'?

While the synonyms coincident and coeval are close in meaning, coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship. // the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

Q: When can 'contemporaneous' be used instead of 'coeval'?

The synonyms contemporaneous and coeval are sometimes interchangeable, but contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people. // contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

Q: When could 'contemporary' be used to replace 'coeval'?

The meanings of contemporary and coeval largely overlap; however, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them. // Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

Q: When would 'simultaneous' be a good substitute for 'coeval'?

In some situations, the words simultaneous and coeval are roughly equivalent. However, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time. // the two shots were simultaneous

Q: Where would 'synchronous' be a reasonable alternative to 'coeval'?

The words synchronous and coeval can be used in similar contexts, but synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals. // synchronous timepieces

coeval 1 of 2

adjective

kō-ˈē-vəl

Definition of coeval

as in concurrent

existing or occurring at the same period of time two stars thought to be coeval because they have nearly the same mass and brightness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

coeval

2 of 2

noun

as in contemporary

a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another somewhat surprisingly, Saint Patrick and Attila the Hun were coevals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective coeval differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of coeval are coincident, contemporaneous, contemporary, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

In what contexts can coincident take the place of coeval?

While the synonyms coincident and coeval are close in meaning, coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

When can contemporaneous be used instead of coeval?

The synonyms contemporaneous and coeval are sometimes interchangeable, but contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When could contemporary be used to replace coeval?

The meanings of contemporary and coeval largely overlap; however, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When would simultaneous be a good substitute for coeval?

In some situations, the words simultaneous and coeval are roughly equivalent. However, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

Where would synchronous be a reasonable alternative to coeval?

The words synchronous and coeval can be used in similar contexts, but synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

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 coeval

Adjective

One operation persisted fourteen hours, a sort of sci-fi marvel of science, internal engineering, and medical dedication, contra all the coeval dystopian breakdowns of that first COVID year. — Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 Their personalities and their pain are made almost exactly coeval, with little telling slippage between. — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023 Her letters to Bradley demonstrate that the idea was coeval with her wish to be a poet and her discovery of romantic feeling for girls, and that it was fully formed as early as her adolescence. — Langdon Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 25 Feb. 2020

Noun

The universal hatred comes from the child star’s coevals, whose curiosity about the occupation is mingled with resentment. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coeval

Adjective

The beta saw an all-time peak of 115,145 concurrent players on the first day.

— Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
York was found guilty, according to court documents, and was sentenced to concurrent one-day jail sentences for each misdemeanor.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of concurrent

Noun

While many of her New York contemporaries faded from cultural relevance, Kusama’s only grew in her later years.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Britton was just one in an endless outpouring of grief over Parton’s death, as her costars, contemporaries, and friends all remembered the country legend.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemporary

Adjective

North Carolina is also home to synchronous fireflies, another bioluminescent species that lights up on land.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026
Satellites operating in sun-synchronous orbit receive steady solar energy, providing a consistent power source without depending on Earth’s electrical grid.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of synchronous

Adjective

Accelerating human evolution coincident with the development of agriculture increased redheadedness and decreased male-pattern baldness.

— Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
In a separate announcement, but with coincident timing, WestJet also announced a stopover plan in Calgary.

— Don Tse, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of coincident

Adjective

Brock Lesnar's final three matches Per WWE records and contemporaneous reporting.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The band’s lo-fi sound and intermittent lush orchestrations felt exotic but somehow warm — the Irish counterpart to another contemporaneous example of the form, Scotland’s Belle and Sebastian.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemporaneous

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coevality

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“Coeval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coeval. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of coeval

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Synonyms of coeval

adjective

noun

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Example Sentences

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