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sort

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character, description, kind, nature, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 sort
Noun
Max Richter is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his landmark album Sleep with a sequel of sorts, Sleep Circle, and two London shows. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 5 June 2025 The band released a 2023 video from a live session at Electrical Audio recorded by the late Steve Albini — a torch-passing of sorts, since they’re steeped in the kind of uncompromising rock Albini spent his life making and recording. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2025
Verb
Complexity theorists sort problems into categories, called complexity classes, based on the resource demands of the best algorithms for solving them — that is, the algorithms that run fastest or use the least amount of space. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 21 May 2025 Margouleff explained the sorting system—make, model, serial number, with a chronological overlay. Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort
Noun
  • Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
  • The move marks the first time a major Hollywood studio has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit of this kind.
    Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • Having said that, there are resources for the average person.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2025
  • The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because word of the separation needed to come from Homa.
    Doug Ferguson, Baltimore Sun, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • The ban, which goes into effect on Monday, bars travel to the United States by citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
    Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times, 5 June 2025
  • With a robust slate, strategic partnerships, and international ambitions, the production house is betting big on content that travels — whether vertically on mobile screens or globally across borders.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • This name was given due to the corresponding farming season of picking strawberries, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 12 June 2025
  • In Tuesday’s corresponding move, the Sox designated pitcher Bryse Wilson for assignment.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 June 2025
  • One half of respondents say price increases have caused financial hardships for them or their household, with 16% classifying it as serious hardship.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Lawrence is like the orange M&M, or the also-orange wiry guy from Inside Out 2.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 June 2025
  • Turns out that state budget surplus that Casey’s hubby has been claiming as evidence of his own special skills was propped up all along by COVID-era billions, courtesy of the smiling guy with the aviator glasses and crippling ice cream addiction.
    Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Hanifa, a brand largely associated with size inclusiveness and adaptability returns with its second summer release.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 3 June 2025
  • DuckDuckGo, for instance, was already blocking domains and IP addresses associated with the trackers, preventing the browser from sending any identifiers to Meta.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Ocean with David Attenborough premieres June 7 on National Geographic and begins streaming June 8 on Hulu and Disney+, coinciding with World Oceans Day.
    Simon Perry, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • Miami-Dade County officials assure that the project remains on schedule for a 2027 reopening, coinciding with the theater’s centennial.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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