situation

noun

ˌsi-chə-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce situation (audio)
Definition of situationnext
1
as in deal
position with regard to conditions and circumstances the school's situation is improving with additional financial help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in position
an assignment at which one regularly works for pay there were the usual "situation wanted" postings in the local newspaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in level
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement in earlier times people were unable to alter their situation in life, so if you were born a servant, you stayed a servant he was pleased with his situation among his peers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 situation The situation became clearer Thursday after detectives with the Sunrise Police Department located a member of Molano’s family, Pierre wrote. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 The Dessens, for instance, are going through a situation that no family has ever gone through, which puts all kinds of strain on their relationships. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026 After a company initiates a recall, the FDA evaluates the situation and assigns a recall classification based on the level of health hazard posed by the product. — Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The Salvation Army reevaluated its financial situation last year when its longstanding partnership with the Boys and Girls Club ended. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for situation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for situation
  1. deal
  2. position
  3. level
  4. status
  5. job
  6. place
  7. story
  8. ranking
Noun
  • In the lawsuit, investors alleged they were led to believe that a groundbreaking Wondermind app would be made, advertising deals would be struck, and celebrity cover stories were already underway.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Parton was working on a new Nashville museum and hotel, deals to endorse Purina dog treats and launch her Cup of Ambition coffee brand.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of deal
Noun
  • There isn’t room on a roster to list all the positions where North Chicago senior Amari Earl could play in a single game.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The move puts Eli Lilly among Citadel’s largest individual stock positions and comes after the pharma giant’s shares suffered a sharp decline earlier this year before rebounding.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of position
Noun
  • In the weeks since Warsh’s last news conference, bond yields have surged to levels not seen in more than a decade.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Von Furstenburg took her sun-protective measures to the next level by adding a face mask.
    — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of level
Noun
  • Loop’s status has been a hot-button issue around the team after his badly missed 44-yard field goal in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season kept the Ravens out of the playoffs and accelerated the end of the John Harbaugh era.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Traore, a fifth-round pick hadn’t impressed one bit, but his draft status kept him safe.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of status
Noun
  • It’s mainly centered on Billie, who is worried about an old Facebook post standing in the way of finding a job.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Do artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT eliminate jobs, create new ones, or both?
    — Jeffrey C. Dixon, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of job
Noun
  • Big sophomore Charlie Beniot, 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, came on in his place and performed admirably.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Cubs and Brewers square off seven times in that span, with Monday’s victory putting the North Siders 7 games back of first-place Milwaukee.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of place
Noun
  • Like all other alumni interviewed for this story, one of the first things Oberlander mentioned about her love for Killian was athletics — football games in particular.
    — Austin Horn August 29, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Your stories are a great reminder of what sports teaches high school students about life.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of story
Noun
  • The list measures which albums and EPs rack up the most streams throughout the United States, and neither Hussle nor Rideaux had reached the relatively new ranking before this week.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Eala is the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam, beat a Top Ten opponent, win a Grand Slam match, reach Wimbledon’s fourth round, win a Women’s Tennis Association tournament, and attain a Top Twenty ranking.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of ranking

Browse Nearby Words

situating
situation
situations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

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

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

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

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

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All