ORIGINALITY Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

originality

noun

ə-ˌri-jə-ˈna-lə-tē

Definition of originality

as in novelty

the quality or appeal of being new the originality of the war memorial sparked a heated controversy, as most people had been expecting something more traditional

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in creativity

the skill and imagination to create new things a poet of great originality, she brought a whole new range of subject matter and imagery to poetry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in imagination

the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others a graphic novel that shows a lot of originality on the part of its creator

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 originality Others could imitate but never replicate; their coolness was predicated on their originality. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 For me, the name Peck not only encompassed the conflicts in the book (between twin brothers, capitalism and social good, originality and conformity) but also captured the constant ephemeral battle of proving how and why art matters. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Leaving space for imagination The originality of her contribution can also arise from a refusal to do what many tend to expect from translations of ancient works in particular. — Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 As content becomes easier to make, originality will become more valuable, not less. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for originality

Recent Examples of Synonyms for originality

Noun

There are better ways to bring fun and novelty to this show than reenacting old RHONY GIFs.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
The horror film follows Bear (Michael Johnston), a shy young man desperate to escape the friend zone, who uses a novelty item called the One Wish Willow to wish that his crush, Nikki, would love him more than anyone else in the world.

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of novelty

Noun

At Garth Greenan, where more than forty of Drexler’s paintings and drawings from the sixties were on display, I was struck, once again, by the astonishing freshness and psychological bite of her work.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
The range, the variety, the freshness, the ecstatic culture of experimentation.

— Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of freshness

Noun

Kering said Gucci’s performance reflected the less pronounced impact of newness than in the second quarter, when creative director Demna’s first designs became more widely available in stores.

— Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
It-items tend to combine an exciting spark of newness with an ability to fit seamlessly into people’s closets.

— Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of newness

Browse Nearby Words

original

originality

originally

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Style

“Originality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/originality. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of originality

noun

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