as in dictionary
a reference work that contains information about many different subjects or a lot of information about a particular subject
The school library's encyclopedia occupied much of the bookshelf. an encyclopedia of literature
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Recent Examples of encyclopedia
According to the Italian encyclopedia Treccani, a trattoria is generally more modest than a ristorante and is always autonomous—in other words, it's not connected to a hotel, train station, or ship.
—
Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
That framing is one example out of arguably an encyclopedia’s worth of them.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
These talk pages are now, according to the Verge, at least five times as large as the encyclopedia itself.
—Imogen West-Knights, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Whether playing banjo, guitar or the percussion instrument known as bones, Flemons is a walking encyclopedia of pre-war African-American string-band styles, blues, country and Black cowboy folk songs whose performances are wonderfully down-to-earth.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encyclopedia
Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
That framing is one example out of arguably an encyclopedia’s worth of them.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
These talk pages are now, according to the Verge, at least five times as large as the encyclopedia itself.
—Imogen West-Knights, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Whether playing banjo, guitar or the percussion instrument known as bones, Flemons is a walking encyclopedia of pre-war African-American string-band styles, blues, country and Black cowboy folk songs whose performances are wonderfully down-to-earth.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encyclopedia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclopedia
Noun
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Here is a beginner’s dictionary for 10 terms and phrases as synonymous with the Masters as pimento cheese and peach ice cream.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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In the dictionary What comes at the end of Easter?—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Scattered through the book is a catalog of trinkets collected by Helm, wending through eight storylines exploring the effect of matter around us, and our effect on matter.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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The catalogue of eight plans is part of Boise’s housing agenda, which already allows ADUs — smaller, secondary homes attached or adjacent to a primary residence that are often called in-law or mother-in-law units — in nearly all zoning districts.—
Mark Dee
March 27,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the Viride and Piazzetta restaurants, diners enjoy delicious dishes from one of the country’s star chefs, while the collection of art, objects, and books speaks to Italian culture and design.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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The filing indicates that the 20,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble with a cafe may be selling books by the holidays.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But today, their company Lehman Brothers — which catastrophically collapsed in bankruptcy in 2008 — is remembered as a textbook case for the pitfalls of unchecked greed, corruption and moral bankruptcy.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Before the three scientists’ work, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans were largely abstract animals to most people – zoo exhibits, textbook illustrations, evolutionary symbols.—
Mireya Mayor,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encyclopedia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclopedia. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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