COMMENCEMENT Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

commencement

noun

kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt

Definition of commencement

as in beginning

the point at which something begins there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed

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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 commencement If, for example, a commencement speaker praising the value of artificial intelligence is met with jeers from graduates – as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was in May 2026 – the speaker’s message is immediately rendered inert. — Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 In July, the City Council approved a fourth request for more modifications to the redevelopment agreement — which pushed back the project’s commencement from July 31, 2026, to July 31, 2027, according to city documents. — Taylor O'Connor 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026 Ben Affleck gave the commencement speech at her graduation from the Ivy League, with Bruce Willis, older sister Rumer, and Willis’s wife Emma Heming Willis in attendance for Scout’s milestone moment. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026 El-Sayed graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biology and political science and delivered the commencement speech. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commencement

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencement

Noun

That kind of visceral reaction has been baked into Paranormal Activity from the beginning.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
The beginning of the advertisement focuses on Miestowski reaching for the driver in a golf bag.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of beginning

Noun

To stay in the chase, the Twins desperately need collective performances such as Sunday’s when Zebby Matthews provided a dominant start and the lineup pieced together enough offense to avoid a sweep at the hands of Chicago.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
In 2024, when Malik Nabers’ first-round selection changed the depth chart, Slayton memorably caught only 10 total passes for 122 yards in the Giants’ first four games during a 1-3 start.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of start

Noun

After each meeting, a colleague would ask if there had been any progress citing the days, months and finally years since the committee’s inception.

— Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The Milford Public Library serves both village and township residents and maintains special collections on autism, genealogy and the Civil War, as well as microfilmed editions of the Milford Times dating to the newspaper’s inception.

— Brendel Clark, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of inception

Noun

Unlike many conditions catalogued under the umbrella term of dementia, childhood dementias are often caused by mutations in a single gene that happen to trigger similar mechanisms responsible for adult-onset neurodegeneration.

— Mike McRae August 26, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
That isolation was compounded because he was diagnosed just as the country locked down at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bullock said.

— Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of onset

Noun

Training units would not need to replace the complete launch pod after every firing cycle.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
After the launch of the iPhone in 2007 transformed the smartphone industry, BlackBerry fought hard to keep its consumer mobile division alive with new devices — but ultimately lost the battle.

— Arjun Kharpal,Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of launch

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commencement

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“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencement. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of commencement

noun

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