SIGNIFICANCE Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'significance' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of significance are consequence , importance , moment , and weight . While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized. // the treaty's significance

Q: When is 'consequence' a more appropriate choice than 'significance'?

The words consequence and significance can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects. // the style you choose is of little consequence

Q: In what contexts can 'importance' take the place of 'significance'?

The words importance and significance are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone. // a region with no cities of importance

Q: When would 'moment' be a good substitute for 'significance'?

The meanings of moment and significance largely overlap; however, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence. // a decision of great moment

Q: Where would 'weight' be a reasonable alternative to 'significance'?

In some situations, the words weight and significance are roughly equivalent. However, weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something. // the argument carried no weight with the judge

significance

noun

sig-ˈni-fi-kən(t)s

Definition of significance

as in meaning

the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action the significance of that word is much debated by biblical scholars

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in importance

the quality or state of being important the political significance of the special commission's report

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun significance differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of significance are consequence, importance, moment, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

When is consequence a more appropriate choice than significance?

The words consequence and significance can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

In what contexts can importance take the place of significance?

The words importance and significance are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When would moment be a good substitute for significance?

The meanings of moment and significance largely overlap; however, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

Where would weight be a reasonable alternative to significance?

In some situations, the words weight and significance are roughly equivalent. However, weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

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 significance The number, for a Knicks team angling to repeat as NBA champions after ending a 53-year title drought last season, holds significance. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 The fire history of Flagg Mountain holds particular significance for a Native American community just a few miles away. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 But its public significance is broader – and reaches much further back. — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 This programming decision has huge political and cultural significance. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for significance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for significance

Noun

Objects, especially ones as expensive and sought-after as that bag, can hold a lot of power and meaning.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
Darman regularly filled me in on the behind-the-scenes story, its color and meaning.

— Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of meaning

Noun

The princess has also increasingly made the importance of nature a focus of her work, including last year's release of a four-part video series on the power of nature.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Silver’s comments underscore the importance the league places on obtaining that information.

— Jessica Golden,Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of importance

Noun

Investors should also look at a fund's 30-day SEC yield to get a sense of what the company is generating in terms of income.

— Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Government buildings were vandalized in multiple cities, contributing to a sense of national crisis that could boost leading far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen six months before elections.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of sense

Noun

Earlier this year, China's exports and imports each grew at their fastest pace in five years.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Malawi, which has among the highest fuel pump prices in Africa at more than $3 a liter, highlights the impact of a $100-plus per barrel crude price on import-dependent economies with thin buffers.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of import

Noun

In an indirect prompt injection, an attacker hides instructions in content an AI agent will come across while doing a task—a web page or a forum post, for instance—hoping to hijack the agent.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
But there was no sense that publishers and booksellers saw the dust jacket as an opportunity to promote the content or author.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of content

Noun

The statistical side then won the engineering war, but the five-orders-of-magnitude bill served as a reminder.

— Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
And Republican political operatives and independent election observers CNBC spoke with say the money hasn't had the effects its magnitude would be expected to in voter sentiment.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of magnitude

Noun

During his first two years as the Lakers coach, Redick admired Williams’ intent on the defensive end from afar and commended the forward’s willingness to defend other teams’ star players.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The intent of the Praia Collection is to attract more international travelers.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of intent

Noun

The question also has consequences for the quest to unify quantum mechanics with general relativity.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
But local governments should not be forced to shoulder the public-safety consequences of decisions made in Sacramento without adequate transparency and accountability.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of consequence

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of significance

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