famous

adjective

ˈfā-məs How to pronounce famous (audio)
Definition of famousnext
1
as in famed
widely known a book about some of the most famous people of the last century

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excellent
of the very best kind the review gushed that the restaurant offered some truly famous Southern-style cooking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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a famous battle
a historical battle
a famed battle
a prominent battle
a notable battle
a notorious battle
famous people
prominent people
noteworthy people
notable people
renowned people
a famous phrase
a classic phrase
a popular phrase
an iconic phrase
a memorable phrase
an immortal phrase
famous players
famed players
iconic players
notable players
illustrious players
legendary players

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of famous are celebrated, distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noted, notorious, and renowned. While all these words mean "known far and wide," famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When is it sensible to use celebrated instead of famous?

While in some cases nearly identical to famous, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When could distinguished be used to replace famous?

The words distinguished and famous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

Where would eminent be a reasonable alternative to famous?

The synonyms eminent and famous are sometimes interchangeable, but eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When might illustrious be a better fit than famous?

While the synonyms illustrious and famous are close in meaning, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When would noted be a good substitute for famous?

Although the words noted and famous have much in common, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

How do notorious and famous relate to one another?

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

a notorious gangster

When is renowned a more appropriate choice than famous?

In some situations, the words renowned and famous are roughly equivalent. However, 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 famous For the last 26 years, the world’s most famous arena has been hollow in June. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 30 May 2025 This ethos is perhaps what drove the creation of one of the most famous modular sofas of all time — Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda, which was created for B&B Italia in 1970. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 29 May 2025 This season, with the franchise enjoying its best success in more than two decades, some of the most famous people on the planet are out in full force to show support — or simply be seen. —Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 29 May 2025 The other, called Dominator, is owned by the famous chaser Reed Timmer. —Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for famous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famous
  1. famed
  2. excellent
  3. celebrated
  4. wonderful
  5. prominent
  6. beautiful
  7. renowned
  8. great
Adjective
  • Yet by Holly Jackson A famed Y.A. author’s first foray into adult fiction centers on Jet Mason, the wayward daughter of a wealthy Vermont family.
    — Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • That same year, famed fabric maker Vitale Barberis Canonico zeroed in on VitoVi to launch its Heritage and New Talents program spotlighting womenswear and emerging designers.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
Definition of famed
Adjective
  • During informational interviews, asking for ideas of great places to keep an eye on is an excellent way to add to your list.
    — Rebecca Fraser-Thill, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Amazon The latest MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent, lightweight laptop.
    — Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 24 May 2025
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • Perhaps not coincidentally, Chloe has grown up to be a celebrated journalist and activist, while Nikki is a recovering addict whose son has been raised by Chloe.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2025
  • The celebrated rapper, wearing a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, drew a crowd of spectators in the rain outside the courthouse.
    — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 22 May 2025
Definition of celebrated
Adjective
  • Your wonderful dog may or may not hanker to break routine and go on holiday.
    — John Oseid, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 27 May 2025
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • This news dovetails with previous events, such as Trump welcoming the prominent antisemites Nick Fuentes and Kanye West to his home for dinner.
    — Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
  • The cooked agave notes are more prominent on the palate, accompanied by citrus and tropical fruits, a touch of anise/licorice, and a mild pepperiness.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of prominent
Adjective
  • That's why the new savings account for children included in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill , with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government, is truly beautiful to the investment community.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Leatherman, who has been evaluating beaches since 1991, has developed a 50-factor checklist for determining the most beautiful expanses of sand in the United States.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Definition of beautiful
Adjective
  • Jacques Pépin: The renowned chef and cookbook author shares stories from his life and kitchen.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
  • The Saint James pop-up at Printemps New York (One Wall Street, NYC) is open to the public for a limited one-month run, offering an introduction to the renowned Normandy craftsmanship with no passport required.
    — Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of renowned
Adjective
  • The scene, staged at Carnegie Hall, a venue built by one of America’s great 19th century philanthropists, paid tribute to a long tradition of American giving, while pointing to new ways of thinking that are shaping the 21st century.
    — Sam Jacobs, Time, 20 May 2025
  • The future of Hollywood depends on whether the industry recognizes that its greatest asset isn’t its distribution technology but its storytellers.
    — JD Barker, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
Definition of great

Browse Nearby Words

famishment
famous
famousness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Famous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famous. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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