sun

noun

ˈsən How to pronounce sun (audio)
Definition of sunnext
1
as in sunshine
the light given off by the star around which the planet Earth revolves be sure to wear sunscreen if you plan to spend more than a few minutes in the sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in star
a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light the incomprehensible vastness of a universe filled with billions of suns

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sunrise
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance I'm afraid that for this long trip we shall have to leave with the sun

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in glory
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement Olympians basking in the sun of athletic achievement while the public still remembers them

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 sun To save the planet, a crew is sent on a mission to give the sun back its shine… by nuking the crap out of it. — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Lagrange points are crucial for space telescopes because, at these locations, the gravitational forces of Earth and the sun essentially balance each other out, keeping the spacecraft stable with minimal effort on its part. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 The autumnal equinox is the precise moment when the sun crosses directly above the Earth's equator, marking the start of the fall season. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 This sheer mineral sunscreen also reflects UVA/UVB rays to protect skin and prevent sunburn, is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and is composed of zinc oxide for the ultimate sun protection. — Alison Abbey Hudak, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sun
  1. sunshine
  2. star
  3. sunrise
  4. glory
  5. sunlight
  6. galaxy
  7. day
  8. applause
Noun
  • Its thick green leaves look juicy, and the mulberries are already red because of the sunshine and the good care of the gardeners.
    — Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • On the album cover, Wolfe is seen outdoors in the sunshine, but the setting is the eerie landscape of Mono Lake, California, with its strange rock formations representing another in a series of epic locations for the singer.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sunshine
Noun
  • Brad Pitt sent a message to George Clooney as the Michael Clayton star was honored Wednesday at the Venice International Film Festival.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Marchese spent the past 12 years as a senior executive at Studio71, another creator media firm that handled distribution and advertising sales representation for a range of digital-native stars.
    — William Earl, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of star
Noun
  • Senior students at the three high schools also got to mark the start of their final high school year with coffee and doughnuts at a senior sunrise event, said Lily Konczyk, Andrew High School Student Council co-president.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Several of our local parks are only open from sunrise to sunset (outside of special events).
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sunrise
Noun
  • Owen Wolff, 21, was just a small child back then, watching his father play for MLS glory and represent America with the United States Men’s National Team.
    — PJ Green August 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • How an Iowa baker turned backyard raspberries into State Fair glory, with recipe.
    — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of glory
Noun
  • The full-size prototype, installed on Hongqi’s EHS7 electric SUV, can reportedly produce up to 300 watts of power under sufficient sunlight and generate around 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This is also important because retinol makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight, and thus more prone to burning.
    — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sunlight
Noun
  • Rogue stars could be the answer The key to this mystery could lie in the fact that most stars don't orbit the centers of their galaxies where supermassive black holes dwell alone, instead existing in binary partnerships.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • If the Fermi Explorer mission can knock down a couple of the filters that might explain the Fermi paradox, that only leaves a few options for why our galaxy appears not to be littered with alien civilizations.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of galaxy
Noun
  • Instead of prioritizing style alone, consider a supportive walking sneaker designed for long days on your feet.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That is just the day before the campaign gets underway, with London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United in the season opener on Friday at 7pm BST.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of day
Noun
  • The applause barely stopped, and the crowd sang along to every word as well as danced in their seats throughout the entire two-and-a-half-hour show.
    — Nada Aboul Kheir, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Her words were met by applause in Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
    — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of applause

Browse Nearby Words

sum-ups
sun
sunbaked
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Cite this Entry

“Sun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sun. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sun

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sun

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