object 1 of 2

noun

ˈäb-jikt How to pronounce object (audio)
Definition of objectnext
1
as in item
something material that can be perceived by the senses I kept tripping over countless little objects scattered about the darkened room

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in entity
one that has a real and independent existence trying to determine whether communication with the dead is an object for study, a hoax, or a figment of the imagination

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish the object of this course is to teach you algebra

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

object

2 of 2

verb

əb-ˈjekt How to pronounce object (audio)
as in to protest
to present an opposing opinion or argument they objected to the conductor's insistence that their train tickets were not valid

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun object contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of object are aim, design, end, goal, intention, intent, objective, and purpose. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

Where would aim be a reasonable alternative to object?

While in some cases nearly identical to object, aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

When is it sensible to use design instead of object?

Although the words design and object have much in common, design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

When might end be a better fit than object?

The synonyms end and object are sometimes interchangeable, but end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

When can goal be used instead of object?

The meanings of goal and object largely overlap; however, goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

When could intent be used to replace object?

While the synonyms intent and object are close in meaning, intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

In what contexts can intention take the place of object?

The words intention and object can be used in similar contexts, but intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

When is objective a more appropriate choice than object?

In some situations, the words objective and object are roughly equivalent. However, objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

When would purpose be a good substitute for object?

The words purpose and object are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

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 object
Noun
There’s a delightful irony to such a dark series of events starting with such an innocent-looking toy, and Barker knew that the movie needed a new addition to the wish-granting-objects canon. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Investigators said some female victims were found naked or partially unclothed, with evidence of severe mutilation and objects including grenades, nails and household tools inserted into their bodies. —Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Verb
Only a single faculty member objected. —Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026 The public defender has objected to Stadlin’s request in part by challenging its relevance. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for object
Recent Examples of Synonyms for object
  1. item
  2. entity
  3. purpose
  4. protest
  5. thing
  6. substance
  7. goal
  8. complain
Noun
  • Every warm-weather vacation benefits from a featherweight layer that can fit in your purse or personal item, and this cozy V-neck sweater is my pick for the season.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
  • Malibu Farm's beach menu showcases items from a BLT Caesar Salad to a Crab Cake Sandwich.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
Definition of item
Noun
  • The 2016 act authorizes the president to impose economic sanctions and visa bans on foreign individuals or entities worldwide responsible for gross human rights abuses or significant corruption.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
  • Gender distress plays a more pronounced role in the film later on, as two crucial scenes frame it as the insurmountable obstacle that prevents the entity’s targets from returning to a version of their previous lives.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Definition of entity
Noun
  • Each object was made by someone, with a precise intention—to embody a necessary purpose, once held in relation to a community.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
  • Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, was said to have included some nuclear concessions in its latest proposal to end the war.
    — Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
Definition of purpose
Verb
  • Simi Valley lost a home run after Arcadia protested over a lineup error.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2026
  • With data centers the size of dozens of football fields combined sprouting up around the country, residents have protested the construction of AI infrastructure, which McKinsey projected to touch $7 trillion in capital expenditures by 2030.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Definition of protest
Noun
  • Mind-blowing things that would never happen in the 'Survivor' of old are happening on Season 50.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
  • This was a customary thing that would happen in royal families.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Definition of thing
Noun
  • When the Moon enters Taurus, recognition feels grounded because the message has substance behind it.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • Addictive pursuits from substance abuse through to gaming supposedly flood the brain with dopamine and hijack our actions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Definition of substance
Noun
  • The company amassed a clean-energy portfolio that included one of the world’s largest solar power plants, and had set a goal of becoming the country’s biggest player in the space by 2030.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
  • What’s the end goal for the electric toothbrush?
    — Caroline Rose Giuliani, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
Definition of goal
Verb
  • Cassidy also complained that a new primary system enacted last year confused voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the all-party primary previously in place.
    — Thomas Beaumont, Fortune, 17 May 2026
  • So, what Rodriguez and Cohen Higgins are complaining about is what happens four and five years or even ten years down the line.
    — Jim DeFede, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Definition of complain

Browse Nearby Words

obituary
object
objected
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Cite this Entry

“Object.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/object. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on object

Nglish: Translation of object for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about object

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