Synonym Chooser

How is the word circumstance distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of circumstance are episode, event, incident, and occurrence. While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

When could episode be used to replace circumstance?

The words episode and circumstance can be used in similar contexts, but episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

When might event be a better fit than circumstance?

The meanings of event and circumstance largely overlap; however, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

When can incident be used instead of circumstance?

While the synonyms incident and circumstance are close in meaning, incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

When would occurrence be a good substitute for circumstance?

Although the words occurrence and circumstance have much in common, occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

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 circumstance Oster said the sentence justified the circumstances of the killing as well as the evidence presented during the trial. Hailey Roden, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025 All of the final four couples were formed in the last couple of weeks and some even more recent due to circumstances out of their control. Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 13 July 2025 She's obviously been through an amazing journey, a trauma, no doubt – a testimony to demonstrating her bravery in those circumstances... Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025 There is also a lack of clear guidance for clubs in these circumstances. James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for circumstance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumstance
Noun
  • Across Europe, renewables surged dramatically in 2024; the war in Ukraine has pushed the Continent toward controlling its own energy destiny.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
  • What’s surprising is the utter disregard — willfully or naively — for blatant flaws in the communist worldview, where Big Government controls our destiny at the expense of a free market that made New York prosperous and appealing to college graduates in the first place.
    Luka Ladan, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • The event will begin the evening of Sept. 8 with an industry dinner and cocktail.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
  • The first of these alerts went out shortly after 1 a.m., and local officials began posting about the event on Facebook at around 5 a.m.
    New York Times, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • If your hire already delivers small wins or influences team flow, that’s not luck.
    Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Proceeding on the movie hinged on a stroke of luck.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • The cloudy days hovering over the fate of the U.S. Airline sector appear to be clearing out, with Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) reporting better-than-expected 2Q 2025 financial results this week.
    Ankita Dhawan, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • For Scotty, a young puppy facing a grim fate, time was running out.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile…things haven’t looked so good for Starbucks in China recently, and not just because its baristas can’t spell names in Chinese characters, either.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 2 July 2025
  • The downside is that each method has a potential reaction from the AGI or ASI that could turn things ugly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • But there’s also a chance Decker has left the area.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
  • At around 50 cents per pack upon release, collectors had a chance to pull rookie cards of Griffey, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio — just to name a few hall of famers.
    Tyler Holzhammer, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Qantas Airlines, Australia’s flagship carrier, reported Wednesday that a cyber incident had occurred Monday in one of its contact centers that exposed data for as many as 6 million customers.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the incident, per AP.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The Climate Superfund Act is modeled after the federal Superfund law that requires companies to pay for the cleanup of contamination caused by their activities, such as hazardous waste disposal or accidents and spills.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
  • America did not become a global scientific leader by accident.
    Dr. Mark Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circumstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumstance. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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