1
as in versatile
able to do many different kinds of things
a universal wrench
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in general
belonging or relating to the whole
mankind's universal need for affection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in comprehensive
covering everything or all important points
the genius of Leonardo da Vinci was universal: he was an artist, an architect, an engineer, and a scientist, among other things
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ubiquitous
present in all places and at all times
after the home team won the national championship, throughout the city a sense of pride was as universal as the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of universal
For readers of Tara Westover’s Educated or Chanel Miller’s Know My Name, The Tell is one of those deeply personal stories that manages to feel universal at the same time.
—
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 June 2025
For the purpose of the art of the deal, the threat of a universal tariff, currently at 10% but hypothetically due to rebound to the ridiculous reciprocal rates of 30% or 40% on key allies at the end of the 90-day pause in July, is a compelling one.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
The United States maintains a 10% universal tariff on most goods coming into the country, and Trump just doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum this week.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
These systems are universal, providing comprehensive coverage to citizens and residents, although access and coverage can vary.
—Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for universal
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 June 2025
For the purpose of the art of the deal, the threat of a universal tariff, currently at 10% but hypothetically due to rebound to the ridiculous reciprocal rates of 30% or 40% on key allies at the end of the 90-day pause in July, is a compelling one.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
The United States maintains a 10% universal tariff on most goods coming into the country, and Trump just doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum this week.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
These systems are universal, providing comprehensive coverage to citizens and residents, although access and coverage can vary.
—Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for universal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for universal
Adjective
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Miller is a versatile forward with the ability to scale the lineup and play center or wing.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
-
This purse is versatile, featuring interchangeable straps.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Among folks in the business, there is a general sense of Hacks as a funny show featuring great performances, made by incredibly likable people in Downs, Aniello, and Statsky.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
7 June 2025
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Pecans Pecans — as well as nuts in general — are a great item to buy in bulk at Costco.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
Employee Health and Productivity Many small businesses have tight budgets and struggle to provide basic benefits, much less comprehensive health insurance to all employees.—
Rhett Buttle,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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By understanding the task behind a query, Google hopes to provide AI answers that save people time, even if the model needs a few ticks to fan out and run multiple searches to generate a more comprehensive report on a topic.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Reflective writing, another recent trend, is practically ubiquitous in medical schools and residency programs, and there is some evidence that writing may make doctors more empathetic and observant.—
Danielle Ofri,
New Yorker,
7 June 2025
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Smart lawn mowers certainly aren't as ubiquitous as their indoor, floor-cleaning counterparts, and there are several good reasons for that.—
John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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The offices that thrive in this new phase will be those that establish clear and adaptable roles, cultivate a culture of institutional memory, and utilize technology and partnerships to maximize the potential of small, high-impact teams.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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The more adaptable the schedule, the more positively employees view their company’s policies, the Cisco report also found.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, along with Warner Chappell Music, prevailed against a copyright infringement claim based on a generic musical progression that goes back to Bach and before.—
Bill Hochberg,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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But McKayla hastens to correct the generic impression.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Take the elevator to the observation deck and let the panoramic view sink in.—
Rafael Peña,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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The pièce de résistance of Sunset Cove is undoubtedly its panoramic views over the bay, but locals flock to the restaurant for old-fashioned sundaes, food trucks, and live music performances.—
Blair West,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The 22-year-old pop star and actress, who grew up in Temecula, Calif., before moving to Los Angeles in middle school to star in the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark, took to social media on Saturday (June 14) amid widespread protests.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
15 June 2025
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Adding insult to injury was the inability of the Patriot interceptors to counter the overwhelming majority of the Scuds, despite widespread reports of its efficiency at the time.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Universal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/universal. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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