Definition of formernext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word former distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of former are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When would antecedent be a good substitute for former?

The synonyms antecedent and former are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace former?

The meanings of anterior and former largely overlap; however, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When is foregoing a more appropriate choice than former?

The words foregoing and former are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When can preceding be used instead of former?

While the synonyms preceding and former are close in meaning, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of former?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

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 former Aside from elevating the services at the Bradenton airport, former Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority president and CEO Rick Piccolo says the jobs the project will create are important to the community. Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026 The evening started with Cucurella fouling Madueke through his back, but matters balanced out with the winger dropping deeper to take proper strides at his former team-mate. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 But Trump’s military operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have given Vietnamese conservatives fresh justification for their unease about closer ties with Washington. David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026 Investigation into Caleb Elliott Caleb Elliott, a former teacher and coach at Moore Middle School, was arrested multiple times in October and November 2025. S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for former
Recent Examples of Synonyms for former
Adjective
  • Violette briefly resurfaced in 2018 with a small solo show at Gladstone’s Upper East Side town house—an improbably tasteful site for an erstwhile rebel.
    Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The first is modeled after an erstwhile monument to the iki (refined) shopping district of Ginza of the Meiji period (1868-1912).
    Jonathan DeLise, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Lakeside's previous police chief, who also served as mayor, Robert Gordanaire, was fired after he and his daughter, the town clerk, were indicted by a grand jury for selling vehicles belonging to the town and pocketing the profit.
    Brian Maass, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The previous schedule was fixed.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Of the final contenders—Zaida the Afghan hound, Cookie the Maltese, JJ the Lhasa apso, Graham the Old English sheepdog, Cota the Chesapeake Bay retriever, Penny the Doberman pinscher, and Wager the smooth fox terrier—four-year-old Penny was crowned the year’s top dog.
    Poupay Jutharat, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The 83-year-old senator has had multiple health issues over the past few years, including publicly freezing during a press conference in 2023 and falling ahead of a Senate vote in October 2025.
    Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The data included not only tax returns but also investment details, stock trades, gambling winnings, audit determinations, and other financial information.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Former.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/former. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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