CANONICAL Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

canonical

adjective

Definition of canonical

as in apostolic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in authoritative

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 canonical And has that conversation broadened into a discussion of who gets to translate canonical texts more generally—questions of race, class, and access as well as gender? — Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 The canonical example is Air France flight 447, which fell into the Atlantic in 2009. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026 The Guerrilla Girls are now canonical within art history, and people often accept their work as though it has always been recognized as important. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Her drawings hung beside pieces by Henry Darger, Bill Traylor, and James Castle—canonical artists in the genre. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for canonical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canonical

Adjective

On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.

— Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church directed his remarks to university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, during an 11-day apostolic journey in Africa.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of apostolic

Adjective

This excellent volume contains a series of concise and authoritative essays on key aspects of the Ghetto’s early history, written by leading experts in the field.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The new system will organize types of data that proved difficult to categorize in the past — such as the ways firms make difficult decisions — to make the rankings more authoritative.

— Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of authoritative

Adjective

The group formed after students went viral for holding a mock papal election in their classroom.

— Darius Johnson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Church officials in Argentina, the homeland of Leo's predecessor Pope Francis, urged parishioners to put the pontiff's well-being ahead of their excitement over the country’s first papal visit in four decades.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of papal

Adjective

California has hundreds of licensed home lenders, which include large national banks such as Chase, online lenders including Rocket Mortgage, and regional and community banks, as well as credit unions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
The deep-tissue session, which lasts for 30 minutes, draws directly on Brady’s time spent with his longtime body coach, Alex Guerrero, to shape his recovery in the NFL and beyond, alongside a team of licensed therapists and trainers.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of licensed

Adjective

After returning to the United States, Novakovic attended an Episcopal boarding school in San Antonio, Texas.

— byRachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 May 2026
On New Year’s Eve in 1996, Christou followed Deadbeat with a club at a former Episcopal church that was built in 1865.

— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

Definition of episcopal

Adjective

These remain part of its development strategy rather than a range of certified aircraft.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Gill estimates the average cost for custom, certified flood panels for a 3-bedroom 2-bathroom home is somewhere in the neighborhood of $22,000.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of certified

Adjective

By the 1980s, England was beginning its turn away from churchgoing as a cornerstone of society, so nothing as extroverted or nakedly clerical as gospel choirs would fit a downcast, monochromatic land anyhow.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Rubio said the inclusive presentation was in keeping with the effort, begun by Pope Francis, to make the church less clerical and more reflective of the real world.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of clerical

Adjective

If benefits shrink or get taxed more aggressively down the road (which is a legitimate concern) having a tax-free income source gives you flexibility a pre-tax account simply can’t.

— Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Blake Grupe has kicked for two NFL teams, but never for a legitimate contender.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of legitimate

Browse Nearby Words

canon

canonical

canonize

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Style

“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canonical. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of canonical

adjective

Example Sentences

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