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
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Recent Examples of cans
Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
In 2019, Conagra was hit with a flurry of lawsuits alleging that cans of Pam cooking spray burst into flames, severely burning users.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Rather than shrinking from the spotlight, the bears embrace the moment, lifting their Pepsi cans for all to see.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Places like Los Angeles and Oakland have high permit fees and strict zoning that often confines cans to industrial areas.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
The supplies include rice, beans, pasta, cans of tuna and solar lamps that will be delivered by the Catholic Church and Caritas.
—Philip Wang, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
The entrance to Valley View Elementary School in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights resembles a food pantry these days, with cabinets filled with cans of food products and plastic crates brimming with children’s clothes.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
There’s also a large O’Malley’s pub, where things like fish & chips and cans of Guinness Stout go for a la carte prices.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The host sits in a fairly bare garage, with a couple of paint cans stacked between two comfy armchairs.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
The cold stillness felt temporary — as if the growers would return at any moment to prop up the crumpled tents, replant their crop and fling more beer cans and dirty underwear into the woods.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
In 2019, Conagra was hit with a flurry of lawsuits alleging that cans of Pam cooking spray burst into flames, severely burning users.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Rather than shrinking from the spotlight, the bears embrace the moment, lifting their Pepsi cans for all to see.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Places like Los Angeles and Oakland have high permit fees and strict zoning that often confines cans to industrial areas.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
The supplies include rice, beans, pasta, cans of tuna and solar lamps that will be delivered by the Catholic Church and Caritas.
—Philip Wang, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
The entrance to Valley View Elementary School in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights resembles a food pantry these days, with cabinets filled with cans of food products and plastic crates brimming with children’s clothes.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
There’s also a large O’Malley’s pub, where things like fish & chips and cans of Guinness Stout go for a la carte prices.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The host sits in a fairly bare garage, with a couple of paint cans stacked between two comfy armchairs.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cans
Verb
-
According to the death certificate from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, obtained by Rolling Stone, O’Hara’s immediate cause of death was a pulmonary embolism (a clot that stops blood from flowing to an artery in the lung).—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In between dancing and singing and falling backward in the hands of fellow performers, Bad Bunny stops at what looks like a bar on set to get a drink from none other than Brooklyn’s legendary owner of one of the last surviving Puerto Rican social clubs in New York City.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 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
-
By contrast, even in the early 1900s gasoline could be transported in barrels and cans.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Rain barrels are growing in popularity, and come in a variety of designs and materials, including old-fashioned wood and metal, and newer plastic models.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There have also been fewer inmate deaths in Tarrant County than in Dallas and Harris counties, although those county jails have more capacity — 7,552 beds in Dallas County and 10,466 beds in Harris County, the report shows.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
-
North Carolina legislators accurately portrayed a gap between how many people Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked up from Mecklenburg and Wake County jails through much of 2025.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to restricting access to restrooms, locker rooms and showers in government buildings, the bill would also ban unisex multi-occupancy private spaces in buildings owned by the state of Kansas, local governments, and school districts, as well as public colleges and universities.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The new station would include a lounge, restrooms, and a high-end convenience market.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Operators can configure ten business-class seats or six VIP seats.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
With over 15,000 seats, Moody Center has become the go-to arena for popular touring artists since opening in 2022.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the movie ends when Cathy dies, distraught and brokenhearted over Heathcliff and having starved herself during her pregnancy.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
When the sun moves away from the node, the season ends, and eclipses become impossible again.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Taking ownership removes friction and increases follow-through.—
Brian Page,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The bill also removes administrative requirements like licensing, inspection, additional insurance thresholds, professional management mandates and conditional-use permits.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cans. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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