as in spectrum
formal
a range or series of things that are slightly different from each other and that exist between two different possibilities
His motives for volunteering lie somewhere on the continuum between charitable and self-serving. a continuum of temperatures ranging from very cold to very hot
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Recent Examples of continuum
Despite their historical futility – the Sabres are tied with the Vancouver Canucks as the oldest franchises to never win the Stanley Cup title and the Mammoth-Coyotes-Winnipeg Jets continuum would be right on their heels – Buffalo and Utah have been serious competitors this season.
—
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026
Martin has traditionally reserved his own name for projects outside the dub-dancehall continuum of the Bug, like the conceptual Sirens, a journal of childbirth as baptism by fire, and the abyssal Black, a tribute to Amy Winehouse.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
This energy often comes from the ionizing continuum, a powerful, high-energy flashlight from the black hole that strips electrons from atoms.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
One pressing issue is the need to protect and expand reproductive autonomy while also addressing the full continuum of Black women’s health.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for continuum
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026
Martin has traditionally reserved his own name for projects outside the dub-dancehall continuum of the Bug, like the conceptual Sirens, a journal of childbirth as baptism by fire, and the abyssal Black, a tribute to Amy Winehouse.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
This energy often comes from the ionizing continuum, a powerful, high-energy flashlight from the black hole that strips electrons from atoms.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
One pressing issue is the need to protect and expand reproductive autonomy while also addressing the full continuum of Black women’s health.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for continuum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continuum
Noun
-
This has parents concerned and states across the political spectrum starting to act.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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At the other end of the spectrum are Josh Lowe (46%), Jorge Soler (42%) and Oswald Peraza (39%).—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even minor changes in clouds, wind or storms can force delays, especially for a mission of this scale.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, on grander scales, older stars across the Universe run out of fuel and die, new episodes of star-formation are triggered, and the Universe continues to expand, driving individual galaxies, groups of galaxies, and clusters of galaxies mutually apart, faster and faster, as time goes on.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Continuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continuum. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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