issue 1 of 2

1
2
as in exit
a place or means of going out since the lake is the issue of the polluted river, it is becoming polluted as well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in offspring
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant someone who dies without issue might have their estate turned over to the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

issue

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb issue differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of issue are arise, derive, emanate, flow, originate, proceed, rise, spring, and stem. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

How do arise and rise relate to one another, in the sense of issue?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

When can derive be used instead of issue?

Although the words derive and issue have much in common, derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

Where would emanate be a reasonable alternative to issue?

The synonyms emanate and issue are sometimes interchangeable, but emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How are the words flow and spring related as synonyms of issue?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

When might originate be a better fit than issue?

The words originate and issue are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

When is it sensible to use proceed instead of issue?

In some situations, the words proceed and issue are roughly equivalent. However, proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

When could spring be used to replace issue?

While in some cases nearly identical to issue, spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

In what contexts can stem take the place of issue?

The words stem and issue can be used in similar contexts, but stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

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 issue
Noun
Weight changes could reflect underlying health issues that also drive cognitive decline. New Atlas, 12 Sep. 2025 Gives Concerning Update on Mavericks' Anthony Davis Compatibility appears to have been at the heart of Cola's issues. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Hoffman, the lawmaker who was shot and wounded in June, and his family also issued a statement denouncing Kirk’s death. Mark Vancleave, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025 His first pitch of the game became a Romy Gonzalez leadoff single, and Fried issued a two-out walk to Rob Refsnyder before getting an inning-ending groundout from Carlos Narváez. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for issue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for issue
Noun
  • Local organizations are training AI models on regional medical data to improve healthcare outcomes.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • With an outside agency taking the lead, local officials hoped to mitigate concerns over conflicts of interest and inspire public trust in the investigation’s outcome, the county wrote last month in a letter to Bonta.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cavill’s exit didn’t sit well with many already disenchanted fans.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Clive Reeves and Bigon are the duo leading the conversations on the restructure, both of whom arrived last October as part of the reshuffle after Berrada’s exit.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This includes communication between parents and offspring and mature animals of opposite sexes communicating attraction, mate choice, and trail following.
    Ashleigh N. DeLuca, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Sharks are slow to mature and produce relatively few offspring, so even small reductions in reproductive output can have ripple effects across populations.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • His obituary had also not yet been published by the funeral home.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The study is published in the journal Science.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This year’s results covering 2023 and 2024, which were shared exclusively with Forbes, will be released tomorrow.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Agents detained two suspects – including one at the scene of the crime – but later released them and cleared them of any involvement.
    Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • According to the company, multiple benchmark results showed that its model’s overall performance surpassed that of Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek’s latest reasoning model.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The process produced uniform, reproducible results, paving the way for mass production of catalysts fit for seawater electrolysis.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Altus then mocked her for leaving the Wall Street Journal for a different outlet.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Most humans today, including most readers of this article, get a significant portion of their calories from carbohydrates — grains, tubers, legumes and fruits.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Avoid adding smelly meats, fruit rinds or other sweet-smelling food scraps to your compost.
    Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/issue. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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