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

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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 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 The complaint argues that testimony conflicts with contemporaneous Jones Day press releases describing her as leading the litigation team, as well as Supreme Court filings listing her as counsel of record. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026 There is no denying her perceptiveness, and her contemporaneous letters to her husband’s successor, Andrew Johnson—mostly attempts to secure positions for Lincoln loyalists—do not suggest a woman mentally finished off by yet more grief and loss. — Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 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

Missouri would be the only state in the country with such a requirement, often called a concurrent majority, according to a list of state ballot measure rules compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
Separate from the murder case, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to dozens of financial crimes and remains behind bars on concurrent state and federal sentences of 27 and 40 years.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

Definition of concurrent

Adjective

This 10,000-acre state park, an International Dark Sky Park, is considered one of the best places in West Virginia to see fireflies, including the synchronous type.

— Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
And every spring, thousands of people throw their names into a lottery for a chance to witness synchronous fireflies in the Smokies.

— USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 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

Dubbed Camp Meeker Cabin, the project strips mountain living back to its quieter essentials, while still embracing contemporary environmental design.

— Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
The architecture is intentionally clean and contemporary, understated but elegant.

— David Caraccio Updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of contemporary

Adjective

The combination remained effective because escaping both antibodies required multiple simultaneous mutations rather than a single genetic change.

— William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
The Mass, rich in velvet and gold-trimmed vestments, chanting and incense, was livestreamed on the society’s YouTube channel, with simultaneous explanations in several languages.

— Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of simultaneous

Adjective

That Iran targeted Bahrain likely was not coincidental.

— Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 27 June 2026
Born in Liverpool to a Norwegian father and a French mother in 2002, his middle name is Gerard, which feels too coincidental not to be linked with the Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier, a Frenchman who was heavily involved with the France national team across his career.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of coincidental

Browse Nearby Words

contemplative

contemporaneous

contemporaneously

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“Contemporaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporaneous. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of contemporaneous

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