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as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy a truly popular revolution, not one that replaced one dictatorship with another

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in affordable
being within the financial means of most people from their inception, DVDs were designed to be sold directly to consumers at popular prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective popular contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of popular are common, familiar, ordinary, plain, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

When is it sensible to use common instead of popular?

While the synonyms common and popular are close in meaning, common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When would familiar be a good substitute for popular?

In some situations, the words familiar and popular are roughly equivalent. However, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

When might ordinary be a better fit than popular?

While in some cases nearly identical to popular, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

In what contexts can plain take the place of popular?

The words plain and popular can be used in similar contexts, but plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

How are the words vulgar and popular related?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

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 popular The popular chain is bringing back a popular menu item that hasn’t made an appearance since last year. Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025 Given that smoking was a popular leisure activity at taverns, Trussell expected to find numerous clay smoking pipes — but spotted far fewer than expected. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025 Contrary to popular belief, patios are just as, if not more, cozy and inviting during fall. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025 This nail style will be especially popular as the holidays approach. Ana Serrano, Glamour, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for popular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popular
Adjective
  • These jeans are fashionable and comfortable enough to take me from the airport terminal straight to the office.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Choose between three fashionable colors, or go with the sophisticated floral print.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After being integrated, this system will demonstrate its capabilities in live-fire tests – advancing the Department of War’s effort to evaluate and accelerate new, cost-effective strike capabilities for conventional deterrence.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Studies show operating emissions for rail can be as low as 31 g CO₂e per passenger-km on electrified routes, a number far below many conventional car or plane comparisons.
    Chelsea Haney October 25, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In general, the family and the Brown-Forman Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, tries to be consistent with its giving, said current Brown-Forman board chairman Farrer.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Led by quarterback Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt’s roster has been built by coach Clark Lea and general manager Barton Simmons, a longtime recruiting analyst for Rivals and 247Sports.
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The last quarter of the eighteenth century was a pre-democratic era, and all efforts to read a Jacksonian or Tocquevillian faith in the wisdom of the common man into the American founding are misleading distortions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Two of Africa’s longest-serving leaders secured extensions to their rule, cementing signs of democratic erosion on the continent.
    Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Better yet, the style is surprisingly affordable.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Its 135 rooms are both ambitiously designed and fairly affordable, sometimes at under $230 per night.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But cattle producers say importing cheaper beef abroad could threaten domestic agriculture in the long run.
    Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Gripen fighters have the reputation of being relatively cheap and easy to maintain and arm, and able to operate in austere conditions – using roads or even dirt roads for runways.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Invest in better sleep today by shopping Wayfair’s bedding sale, and keep scrolling for more of our favorite deals.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Why is amnesia such a favorite theme?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Her video featured her usual format of showing herself making an iced coffee before pausing to speak to the camera.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The postal service is primarily self-funded and doesn't depend on the appropriations process to continue running as usual.
    The NPR Network, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Popular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popular. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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