CONTEMPORANEOUS Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of contemporaneous are coeval , coincident , contemporary , simultaneous , and synchronous . While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people. // contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

Q: When is 'coeval' a more appropriate choice than 'contemporaneous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to contemporaneous , coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons. // two stars thought to be coeval

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

In some situations, the words coincident and contemporaneous are roughly equivalent. However, 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: Where would 'contemporary' be a reasonable alternative to 'contemporaneous'?

Although the words contemporary and contemporaneous have much in common, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them. // Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

Q: When is it sensible to use 'simultaneous' instead of 'contemporaneous'?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporaneous largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time. // the two shots were simultaneous

Q: When would 'synchronous' be a good substitute for 'contemporaneous'?

The words synchronous and contemporaneous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals. // synchronous timepieces

contemporaneous

adjective

kən-ˌtem-pə-ˈrā-nē-əs

Definition of contemporaneous

as in concurrent

existing or occurring at the same period of time contemporaneous accounts of the battle from officers on both sides

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contemporaneous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contemporaneous are coeval, coincident, contemporary, simultaneous, and synchronous. While all these words mean "existing or occurring at the same time," contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

When is coeval a more appropriate choice than contemporaneous?

While in some cases nearly identical to contemporaneous, coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

When can coincident be used instead of contemporaneous?

In some situations, the words coincident and contemporaneous are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Where would contemporary be a reasonable alternative to contemporaneous?

Although the words contemporary and contemporaneous have much in common, contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

When is it sensible to use simultaneous instead of contemporaneous?

The meanings of simultaneous and contemporaneous largely overlap; however, simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

When would synchronous be a good substitute for contemporaneous?

The words synchronous and contemporaneous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 contemporaneous These films were contemporaneous with Nollywood movies, which also got a lot of play at the shop. — Lovia Gyarkye, The New York Review of Books, 21 June 2026 When a writer has obviously taken contemporaneous notes, the stories read as if they’ve been written from the inside instead of the outside, and the observations are original and immediate. — Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 11 June 2026 In parallel with the team’s fieldwork, archaeologists are studying contemporaneous Chinese descriptions of the the region, Menshikov added. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026 Feaster says he was impressed by several contemporaneous accounts of Georg Theodor Jacob Müller’s machine, including a testimonial by physicist Johann Tobias Mayer. — Ron Cowen, Scientific American, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for contemporaneous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporaneous

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

Adjective

Amanda Kocon, Edmentum's chief strategy and operating officer, said the interface looks like an online college course where students work through activities and videos, with options for synchronous instruction through video calls and office hours.

— Lucy Tobier, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2026
North Carolina is also home to synchronous fireflies, another bioluminescent species that lights up on land.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 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

Beyond its restoration, the historic Palazzo Giovanelli has been reimagined as a boutique, 33-room, five-star hotel that blends a rich Venetian heritage with contemporary luxury.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Her replacement, Christophe Leribault, critics say, is a somewhat safer pick who will likely shift the museum away from the robust contemporary art program under Des Cars, and toward a more French and Western-centric vision.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemporary

Adjective

The average age for simultaneous child and elder care is now 34, not Gen X, with 80% experiencing a sudden onset.

— Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Her work’s recognition by international curators and her decision to start drawing again were more or less simultaneous events.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of simultaneous

Browse Nearby Words

contemplative

contemporaneous

contemporaneously

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporaneous. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of contemporaneous

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

recalcitrant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

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

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes