CELEBRATED Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'celebrated' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of celebrated are distinguished , eminent , famous , illustrious , noted , notorious , and renowned . While all these words mean "known far and wide," celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. // the most celebrated beauty of her day

Q: When could 'distinguished' be used to replace 'celebrated'?

While the synonyms distinguished and celebrated are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority. // a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

Q: When is 'eminent' a more appropriate choice than 'celebrated'?

While in some cases nearly identical to celebrated , eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character. // the country's most eminent writers

Q: When is it sensible to use 'famous' instead of 'celebrated'?

The synonyms famous and celebrated are sometimes interchangeable, but famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known. // a famous actress

Q: When can 'illustrious' be used instead of 'celebrated'?

The meanings of illustrious and celebrated largely overlap; however, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person. // illustrious war heroes

Q: When would 'noted' be a good substitute for 'celebrated'?

In some situations, the words noted and celebrated are roughly equivalent. However, noted suggests well-deserved public attention. // the noted mystery writer

Q: How do 'notorious' and 'famous' relate to one another, in the sense of 'celebrated'?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil. // a notorious gangster

Q: Where would 'renowned' be a reasonable alternative to 'celebrated'?

Although the words renowned and celebrated have much in common, renowned implies more glory and acclamation. // one of the most renowned figures in sports history

celebrated 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-lə-ˌbrā-təd

Definition of celebrated

as in famous

widely known a celebrated author making an appearance on a talk show

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

celebrated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of celebrate

as in praised

to proclaim the glory of a personal essay that celebrates the single life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in commemorated

to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony a mixed family that celebrates both the Christian and Jewish religious holidays

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word celebrated different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of celebrated are distinguished, eminent, famous, illustrious, noted, notorious, and renowned. While all these words mean "known far and wide," celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When could distinguished be used to replace celebrated?

While the synonyms distinguished and celebrated are close in meaning, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

When is eminent a more appropriate choice than celebrated?

While in some cases nearly identical to celebrated, eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When is it sensible to use famous instead of celebrated?

The synonyms famous and celebrated are sometimes interchangeable, but famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When can illustrious be used instead of celebrated?

The meanings of illustrious and celebrated largely overlap; however, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When would noted be a good substitute for celebrated?

In some situations, the words noted and celebrated are roughly equivalent. However, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

How do notorious and famous relate to one another, in the sense of celebrated?

Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

Where would renowned be a reasonable alternative to celebrated?

Although the words renowned and celebrated have much in common, renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

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 celebrated

Adjective

The girls of Girls will girl once more with Lena Dunham confirming the celebrated HBO series will return for a special five-episode run. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026 The story follows a celebrated pediatric heart surgeon whose daughter falls prey to a vengeful ghost. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Verb

That’s the address for the PepsiCo plant in Cheverly, Maryland, where McPherson celebrated 21 years as an employee last month. — Jasmine Golden, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026 Wake Forest celebrated its first ranking in the AP poll in four years with the thorough victory. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for celebrated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for celebrated

Adjective

The person answering questions needn't be famous; just someone who has done the thing.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Shahzada was a history buff, so the family had been to Lebanon to see the ancient Cedars of God forest that the Phoenicians had used to build their ships, becoming the Med’s most famous seafarers.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of famous

Verb

Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
At a news conference Friday, police also praised a teacher who threw a cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and fought to take his weapon.

— Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of praised

Adjective

Ahead of rocking the Pond with its classic hits, the famed norteño band brought its signature sound and activism to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The reveal comes a little more than a month after the famed costume designer passed away at 87.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of famed

Verb

Later, Keldermans and fellow clergy member Katherine Elsner anointed a congregant who was having surgery later that month and then gave her a prayer blanket blessed by the community.

— Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
My wife gave us two wonderful children and my daughter just blessed us with a grandson!

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of blessed

Adjective

Advertisement The following day, in a public conversation moderated by renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour, President Nataša Pirc Musar of Slovenia, former Irish President Mary Robinson and I reflected on the choices before humanity.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
His publicist initially told the Associated Press that the renowned designer died of pneumonia, but a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly paints a different picture.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of renowned

Adjective

Perhaps the only prominent Ukrainian who has demanded a wartime election is Fedorov, the former defense minister who elicited the comment about Starshield from Musk.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Mandell’s wife, Elizabeth Heller Mandell, a gallery owner, nonprofit consultant and arts patron from a prominent California family, predeceased him, leaving him in a position to extend her philanthropic work.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of prominent

Adjective

Al Sharpton Al Sharpton is a minister, activist, and one of the nation’s most distinguished leaders in the fight against injustice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Brown and Martin have also each earned the IBMA’s distinguished achievement award.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinguished

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“Celebrated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celebrated. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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