way 1 of 2

noun

ˈwā How to pronounce way (audio)
Definition of waynext
1
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel the town honored the local sports hero by naming after him a short way connecting two shopping centers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in habit
a usual manner of behaving or doing she's set in her ways and is not about to change

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in path
an established course for traveling from one place to another took the regular way to work

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in tendency
an established pattern of behavior that's just his way, so pay him no mind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in room
an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing made way for them to pass

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves go the same way that the school bus does

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7
as in approach
the means or procedure for doing something figured out the best way to accomplish the task

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8
as in doorway
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure we came in the back way

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9
as in option
the power, right, or opportunity to choose have it your way

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in distance
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects it's just a little way down the road

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way

2 of 2

adverb

as in very
to a great degree "Oh, I'm just way thrilled to be here!" the pageant contestant gushed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word way different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of way are fashion, manner, method, mode, and system. While all these words mean "the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end," way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

has her own way of doing things

In what contexts can fashion take the place of way?

Although the words fashion and way have much in common, fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

rushing about in his typical fashion

How are the words manner and mode related as synonyms of way?

Manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

an odd manner of conducting

When would method be a good substitute for way?

The synonyms method and way are sometimes interchangeable, but method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

effective teaching methods

Where would mode be a reasonable alternative to way?

The words mode and way are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

the preferred mode of transportation

When might system be a better fit than way?

In some situations, the words system and way are roughly equivalent. However, system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

a filing system

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 way
Noun
The simple way to think about this product is a closer integration between Salesforce's library of customers' valuable data and the capabilities of the Claude model. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 Fernandez earned his way back as a senior, then started coaching as a student assistant pursuing an associate’s degree at Miami-Dade College in the early 1990s, washing uniforms and sweeping floors and filling ball racks and taping ankles. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Others, like Hogan, thought Fuentes was way out over his skis. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 The O’Donnell-Trump feud goes way, way back, so the White House response, first reported by Entertainment Weekly, is not a huge surprise. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
  1. road
  2. habit
  3. path
  4. tendency
  5. room
  6. route
  7. approach
  8. doorway
Noun
  • Authorities on Wednesday pre-emptively announced that roads leading to the port would be closed to non-emergency vehicles for seven days, according to state media.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Under the new collective bargaining agreement, each NHL team must sign a permanent emergency backup who will be at every home game and travel with the team to all road games (like a bullpen catcher in Major League Baseball).
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of road
Noun
  • Over time, the OlloBot OlloNi SS1 is designed to learn more about different household members, including their habits, preferences, and everyday interactions.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Most of life is complex and multifaceted, and reading is one of the only habits that pushes back against the instinct to see things in black and white.
    — Mckenna Friedland, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of habit
Noun
  • Her path is profoundly reshaped by an encounter with Mari (Okamoto), a Japanese theater director battling cancer.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Security camera footage shows the shocking moment flood water crashes through the Nepal-China border area, with people seen running away as the water appears to wipe out everything in its path.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of path
Noun
  • Career Fit Is a Business Issue There is a persistent tendency in the legal profession to interpret difficulty in a role as a personal shortcoming.
    — Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The National Association of Theatre Owners changed its name last year to Cinema United, which is more aspirational than descriptive, as Aron — a board member — has a tendency to go his own way.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • Thus Johns’s color room is his kingdom, and there are certain hard-and-fast rules for admittance.
    — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Pairing rolled clothing with compression packing cubes, like this Bagail six-piece set with mesh panels to easily see what’s inside, can help keep outfits organized while creating extra room for souvenirs on the way home.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of room
Noun
  • Check the requirement, confirm the route, draft the plan, or ask one better question.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Together, Jaybush, Brad Chambers, and the American Heavy Moving team figured out a route through the city that avoided street trees, tight turns, and roads that run above old, fragile sewer pipes, which aren’t rated for heavy loads.
    — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of route
Noun
  • Ultimately, Bessent’s approach is likely to fail, said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer of One Point BFG Wealth Partners and editor of The Boock Report newsletter.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Finally, regarding Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, his tone has skewed dovish in recent months, favoring a wait-and-see approach to the impact of the Middle East conflict.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of approach
Noun
  • Excess doorways were removed and replaced with new casework—the removal of some doorways allowed some spaces to be re-imagined, creating reading nooks or quiet collaboration spaces.
    — Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Have these items at the doorways for quick visits into the house.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of doorway

Phrases Containing way

Browse Nearby Words

waxy
way
wayfarer
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Cite this Entry

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

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