1
as in stops
slang
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sacks
to let go from office, service, or employment
the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the racketeers were rounded up and thrown in the can
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restrooms
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste
I excused myself and asked if I could use the can
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in seats
the part of the body upon which someone sits
he fell on the ice and landed on his can
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cans
Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Two cans of personal beverages were submerged in ice inside the ice machine.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 15, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
Six cans of evaporated milk were rusted enough to draw Stop Sales.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Ahead of the global soccer event, Miller Lite is giving you the chance to score a Miller Time MVP Matchball – about 50% larger than a standard soccer ball – that holds up to 12 Miller Lite cans, comes with a display stand, and is reloadable (beer not included).
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 13 May 2026
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, larvae and pupae can be found in out-of-the-way places like door hinges, backs of door knobs, and corners of wire baskets, underneath shelves, and around the edges of jar lids, cans, and non-food items also stored in your pantry or cupboard.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
And catastrophe nearly struck when Scottish customs agents opened IMAX film cans, potentially exposing the unused film.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
Returning this season are the popular $2 hot dogs and 12-ounce cans of Busch Light for $5.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Empty Soda Cans and Plastic Bottles Filling the bottom of your large planter with empty soca cans, plastic bottles, or milk jugs takes up a surprising amount of space.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 10 May 2026
Noun
The summery beverage is currently available nationwide for a limited time, through July 31, in 12-oz cans, in both Classic and Zero Sugar varieties.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Two cans of personal beverages were submerged in ice inside the ice machine.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 15, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
Six cans of evaporated milk were rusted enough to draw Stop Sales.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Ahead of the global soccer event, Miller Lite is giving you the chance to score a Miller Time MVP Matchball – about 50% larger than a standard soccer ball – that holds up to 12 Miller Lite cans, comes with a display stand, and is reloadable (beer not included).
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 13 May 2026
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, larvae and pupae can be found in out-of-the-way places like door hinges, backs of door knobs, and corners of wire baskets, underneath shelves, and around the edges of jar lids, cans, and non-food items also stored in your pantry or cupboard.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
And catastrophe nearly struck when Scottish customs agents opened IMAX film cans, potentially exposing the unused film.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
Returning this season are the popular $2 hot dogs and 12-ounce cans of Busch Light for $5.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Empty Soda Cans and Plastic Bottles Filling the bottom of your large planter with empty soca cans, plastic bottles, or milk jugs takes up a surprising amount of space.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cans
Verb
-
This court order temporarily stops most collection activities, including lawsuits, wage garnishments, bank levies and collection calls.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
The team stops functioning as a unit and starts behaving as a collection of individuals.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The results might not be there, but the at-bats and the barrels are still there.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
Earlier in the day, the House also killed a bill that would regulate the sale of gun barrels.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
As a result, families are struggling with the rising cost of living, limited access to county services, unsafe conditions in county jails, and aging infrastructure that has not been maintained.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
-
He was taken to the ICE detention facility in Broadview and eventually transferred to other jails in several states, where he was denied access to heart medication over more than two months while in custody, according to his declaration.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The hotel and its accommodations have been designed with accessibility in mind, including elevators, entrances, parking, restrooms, hotel rooms, and routes to and from all restaurants, meeting, and entertainment spaces.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Stretching from Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, Santa Rosa Beach offers easy public beach access points with parking, restrooms, and seasonal lifeguards.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The seats being full for the national anthem at each of their home playoff games is a sight not often seen at Southern California sporting events.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
And the end came well before midnight, with goals by Mitch Marner and Brett Howden in the first 8½ minutes giving Vegas a commanding lead before many in the late-arriving weeknight crowd had made it to their seats at the Honda Center.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
But Polis, whose final term ends early next year, will also leave office having checked off some issues that have lingered for years.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
-
Co-owner Danielle Dore said the move ends 52 years of renting and will bring more seating, a dog-friendly patio and the same all-day breakfast focus.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Din removes his helmet to say goodbye to Grogu, and the child goes off with Luke to train as a Jedi.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
This single-sensor approach removes the need for the complex calibration typically required when combining separate lidar and camera systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cans. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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