matter 1 of 2

noun

ˈma-tər How to pronounce matter (audio)
Definition of matternext
1
as in topic
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) that is not relevant to the matter under discussion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thing
something to be dealt with we must take care of this matter before it becomes a real problem

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in mail
communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system first-class matter

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in problem
something that requires thought and skill for resolution I've been thinking about the matter all night, and I believe I have a solution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in vicinity
an approximate amount, extent, or degree a simple meal that can be prepared in a matter of 20 to 30 minutes

Synonyms & Similar Words

matter

2 of 2

verb

as in to mean
to be of importance she believes that doing well in school really does matter

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 matter
Noun
But manipulation of material and audience by a filmmaker whose topic is a manipulative, criminally convicted, and arguably sociopathic person is another matter. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026 But what the site will look like in the future will be a matter for discussions with local officials, historians, preservationists and others. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
The Southeast, Northeast and turnout Geography will also matter. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 The distinction matters because responding to a signal and accurately classifying an unfamiliar chemical mixture are separate tasks. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matter
  1. topic
  2. thing
  3. mail
  4. problem
  5. vicinity
  6. mean
  7. question
  8. issue
Noun
  • Under Burgum's 2025 campaign, signs, books, films and exhibits covering topics such as slavery, climate change and the massacre of Native Americans were flagged and removed from national parks and monuments nationwide.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Aside from clashing over national topics like tariffs, the Iran war, artificial intelligence and Social Security, the candidates were asked about jobs in Michigan, the auto industry and education.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of topic
Noun
  • And of course there's the throttle, which makes the whole thing even easier up to a limited top speed of 17 mph (27 km/h).
    — Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • From a career-high 155 yards from Javonte Williams to the defense making just enough stops to allow the offense to do its thing, the Cowboys gained a little bit of their swagger back in the City of Brotherly Love.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of thing
Noun
  • Three said mail from their counties goes out of state for processing.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • From a school district forfeiting arts funding to safety rankings for Halloween trick-or-treaters and a wave of threatening mail targeting California lawmakers, here’s a quick look at what readers need to know.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of mail
Noun
  • Last month, the Kremlin acknowledged problems with food and medical ​supplies getting into Oleshky, saying its military was working to resolve them.
    — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In fact, the Iran war, inflation and the debt problems are potentially about to get even worse.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of problem
Noun
  • For Wiseman, the experience of seeing our home planet from the vicinity of the moon carried a powerful message.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • There is nothing worse than opening your suitcase after a grueling travel day, only to find that one villainous beauty product has exploded and ruined everything in its vicinity.
    — ElleAnna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of vicinity
Verb
  • But his planning doesn’t mean that the tax would survive the courts, and in any case, not every billionaire will necessarily make similar arrangements.
    — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Winning means making much tougher decisions about what to put on the floor.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of mean
Noun
  • The Sun enters your 9th House, beginning a month of exploration, study, travel, publishing, culture, and questions that stretch your understanding of the world.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Corn, an eminent scholar of American art, has been thinking about this question for five decades.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of question
Noun
  • There is no verifiable document about employee has been informed about their responsibility to report health issues.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Sanders, who spoke alongside el Sayed in Grand Rapids, said Trump’s attacks on the Democratic candidate were rooted in Islamophobia because Republicans have little to say about the issues affecting working families.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of issue

Phrases Containing matter

Browse Nearby Words

matted
matter
mattered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matter. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on matter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about matter

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All