1
as in initial
coming before all others in time or order
the original plan had to be discarded when the situation changed drastically
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innovative
having the skill and imagination to create new things
an original artist who wanted his paintings to convey his emotional responses to the people, objects, and landscapes he painted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in novel
not known or experienced before
separate categories for original and adapted screenplays
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in prototype
something from which copies are made
please make copies to hand out, but keep the original
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in character
a person of odd or whimsical habits
the town's singing mailman is an original, all right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 original
Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
WeWork, for example, was largely built on bravado, but the original business model simply couldn’t sustain itself.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Visitors can explore the fort, which is a replica of the original and is one of few forts reconstructed to its actual size.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for original
Adjective
The original vision was to phase out the Flintstones theme, but overwhelming public affection and nostalgia changed their minds.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
WeWork, for example, was largely built on bravado, but the original business model simply couldn’t sustain itself.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Noun
The were four American originals in the Top 10, spearheaded by Season 3 of Bridgerton (123.3M views), which has more than a smidge of British influence.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Visitors can explore the fort, which is a replica of the original and is one of few forts reconstructed to its actual size.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for original
Recent Examples of Synonyms for original
Adjective
-
During these conversations, my students expressed views that reaffirmed their initial survey choices, finding that AI wasn’t great for first drafts, but potentially useful in the pre- or post-writing stages of brainstorming and editing.—
Piers Gelly
July 28,
Literary Hub,
28 July 2025
-
After the initial training period, managers must be trained to become competent mentors and coaches.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Wayne Metro is helping a handful of residents, mostly in Wayne County, book their first trips, said Megan Wilk, Wayne Metro's director of innovative programs.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
26 July 2025
-
WorkLife With Adam Grant Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, delves into workplaces that have incorporated innovative strategies to make every day more productive and actually fun.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
But in reality, many of the most successful companies didn’t start with novel inventions.—
Abdo Riani,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Her novel Tongue was published in English by Bloomsbury in 2009.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The coach’s prototype quickly evolved into a machine featuring a lone basket with a 14-inch rim and a seven-inch ball.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
-
When one prototype's cooling system underperformed, the retrospective revealed an unexpected airflow pattern that became the key to our final design.—
Wayne Yu,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Since the 1940s, professional wrestling has grown in popularity, thanks to its creative characters, stellar performances, and broad appeal to a mainstream audience.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
-
Sadie plays a character named Charlotte, and Sunny plays Happy Gilmore's (Adam Sandler's) daughter, Vienna. — USA TODAY contributed to this report.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Representatives from Retriever Ridge Kennels will talk about how to select the right dog for your goals, basic training principals and what to expect for the first season with your dog.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Aug. 2025
-
This comes on the heels of a series in which many mistakes contributed to the Yankees being swept by the Marlins for the first time in history.—
Dhani Joseph,
New York Times,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Our dining and nightlife correspondent Ana Gutierrez rounded up the creative tequila and mezcal cocktails Austin bars have on tap to mark the occasion.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
Honey Gochujang Corn Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches were created by crew members at a store in Houston, Texas, and this surprising and creative dessert took first place in the national contest.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ella Stiller, the daughter of Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, was introduced as a new character on last week's episode of SATC sequel series And Just Like That.—
Ryan Coleman Updated,
EW.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Why bother, when there’s a big and growing market out there for innovative ways to link up pets, pet lovers and new technology?—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Original.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/original. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share