RENOWNED Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'renowned' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of renowned are celebrated , distinguished , eminent , famous , illustrious , noted , and notorious . While all these words mean "known far and wide," renowned implies more glory and acclamation. // one of the most renowned figures in sports history

Q: In what contexts can 'celebrated' take the place of 'renowned'?

In some situations, the words celebrated and renowned are roughly equivalent. However, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. // the most celebrated beauty of her day

Q: When might 'distinguished' be a better fit than 'renowned'?

While the synonyms distinguished and renowned are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority. // a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

Q: When is it sensible to use 'eminent' instead of 'renowned'?

The synonyms eminent and renowned are sometimes interchangeable, but eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character. // the country's most eminent writers

Q: When is 'famous' a more appropriate choice than 'renowned'?

The words famous and renowned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known. // a famous actress

Q: When can 'illustrious' be used instead of 'renowned'?

Although the words illustrious and renowned have much in common, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person. // illustrious war heroes

Q: When would 'noted' be a good substitute for 'renowned'?

While in some cases nearly identical to renowned , noted suggests well-deserved public attention. // the noted mystery writer

Q: How do 'notorious' and 'famous' relate to one another, in the sense of 'renowned'?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil. // a notorious gangster

renowned 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈnau̇nd

Definition of renowned

as in famous

widely known the renowned painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer, Leonardo da Vinci

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

renowned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of renown

as in acclaimed

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word renowned different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of renowned are celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famous, illustrious, noted, and notorious. While all these words mean "known far and wide," renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

In what contexts can celebrated take the place of renowned?

In some situations, the words celebrated and renowned are roughly equivalent. However, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When might distinguished be a better fit than renowned?

While the synonyms distinguished and renowned are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

When is it sensible to use eminent instead of renowned?

The synonyms eminent and renowned are sometimes interchangeable, but eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When is famous a more appropriate choice than renowned?

The words famous and renowned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When can illustrious be used instead of renowned?

Although the words illustrious and renowned have much in common, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When would noted be a good substitute for renowned?

While in some cases nearly identical to renowned, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

How do notorious and famous relate to one another, in the sense of renowned?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

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 renowned

Adjective

Hunter is a compact back renowned for his lower-body power and battering-ram mentality. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 The tour marks the PSO's 45th international tour and includes appearances at renowned venues and festivals throughout Europe. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 The question fascinated David Hilbert, a renowned mathematician who had devoted much of his life to rebuilding physics on a sturdy foundation of crisp axioms. — Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 The number of people working in Massachusetts’ renowned biotech sector fell last year, the first time that’s happened since at least 2002, The Boston Globe writes. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for renowned

Recent Examples of Synonyms for renowned

Adjective

Celebrity has always been commercial, and famous people have always converted attention into money.

— Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
These waves destroyed a large section of the famous Santa Monica Pier and caused widespread coastal flooding in San Francisco Bay communities.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of famous

Verb

Starring Birbiglia, Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher and Chris Gethard, that critically acclaimed SXSW dramedy released in 2016.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
Many viewers praised the former child star as the beating heart of the series, and it was critically acclaimed.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of acclaimed

Adjective

That’s significant because Ross is a descendant of John Ross (also July), the famed leader of the Cherokee Nation in 1835 who vehemently was against the Ridges’ position to leave their homeland.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
The famed Big 5 (elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and lions) are all easily spotted in these lands, but the diverse habitats provide opportunities for different behavioral sightings, from feeding to bathing and mating.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of famed

Verb

The music department, as well as Courcol’s lively directing and writing, must be commended for scenes of the brass ensemble playing and rehearsing, in a constantly dynamic interaction with dialogue.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Lyne commended the Chicago actor specifically for a scene partway into the movie, when Lane’s Connie is deep into her affair but Gere’s Edward only has vague suspicions.

— Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of commended

Adjective

As the world waits for new music from the superstar, who has not delivered an album in a decade, one of the singer’s most celebrated pieces of work reaches a special milestone.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Bardem plays Miguel, a celebrated architect tempted by a morally dubious but hugely lucrative commission to build a secret survivalist bunker for a reclusive tech billionaire, Andrew (Paul Dano).

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of celebrated

Verb

After seeing a replay, Tatis walked to the wall, complimented the boy and jumped up to give him a fist bump.

— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
As for freshman running backs Jonaz Walton and Javian Osborne, Denbrock complimented the four-star prospects’ potential while also throwing cold water on expectations for them this early in their careers.

— Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of complimented

Adjective

Among the prominent figures was Tobias Adrian, Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the International Monetary Fund.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The movement thereafter played a prominent role in protests across the United States and in other countries, particularly in the wake of the murders of Eric Garner in 2014 and George Floyd in 2020.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of prominent

Verb

The transformation of the Madison plant was also applauded by the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners and Madison Mayor William Phillips.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
His return was widely applauded by fans years after he was dropped for reasons that were never publicly explained either to him or to viewers.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of applauded

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

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