novel 1 of 2

novel

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective novel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of novel are fresh, new, and original. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

When could fresh be used to replace novel?

While the synonyms fresh and novel are close in meaning, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

In what contexts can new take the place of novel?

Although the words new and novel have much in common, new may apply to what is freshly made and unused, what has not been known before, or what has not been experienced before.

new brick
new designs
starts the new job

When might original be a better fit than novel?

The meanings of original and novel largely overlap; however, original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

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 novel
Noun
The Testaments, a Handmaid's Tale sequel based on Margaret Atwood's 2019 novel, is currently in production at Hulu. EW.com, 28 May 2025 To date, the films’ impact on pop culture has also been felt through the proliferation of novels, comic books, video games, and merchandise pegged to the franchise. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 May 2025
Adjective
These changes are creating novel military and geopolitical challenges for Beijing, thereby reinforcing China’s doubts about the potential success of aggression. Ely Ratner, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2025 Woods’s and Waxman’s work suggested a potential target for a novel painkiller. Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for novel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novel
Noun
  • Brand managers can’t control the narrative like in broadcast media.
    Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • This month, especially when Saturn prepares to exit your sign and enter Aries on May 24, you will be asked to confront the internal narratives that no longer serve you.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Alfred Hitchcock turned one of Woolrich’s novelettes into Rear Window, for which Woolrich was paid the grand sum of $650.
    Sam Kashner, Air Mail, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Graphic novelettes issued by the U.S. Army Cyber Institute aim to educate soldiers about digital threats Stephen Cass 23 Mar 2018 3 min read Stephen Cass is the special projects editor at IEEE Spectrum.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Mar. 2018
Adjective
  • The series invites young adventurers to explore the joys and challenges of moving to new places, meeting new people, discovering different cultures and building lasting friendships.
    Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • The webcast is available on its website and on social media platform X. Coverage will also be available on SpaceX's new X TV app.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • The title is a reference to Samuel Beckett’s classic play about a pair of drifters stuck waiting for a visitor who never shows, while his blend of fact and fiction takes a page from Gonzo classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
    Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
  • Is that fact or fiction? North Texas has seen its fair share of rain over the month, including a stormy Memorial Day with 2.15 inches recorded at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Where are the many monographs on green and yellow, the treatises on more esoteric shades like violet or tangerine?
    Amanda Fortini, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Whereas a book or an article once took the form of a series of pages of text bound together, now digital monographs might include audio clips, video, data visualizations, and more.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is often unfamiliar territory for professionals from traditional wealth backgrounds.
    Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • Nearly all the faces here are unfamiliar — and every one is entirely persuasive.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The 86-minute documentary flies by with heartfelt anecdotes about Bono’s relationship with his father, the earliest days of U2, run-ins with global celebrities and his legacy as an artist.
    Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 30 May 2025
  • Did former students get sick? Several people — from health and school officials to parents and teachers — have heard anecdotes about former students getting cancer after leaving Warren Hills, but say there’s nothing concrete at this point.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Pour the nut milk through a fine mesh strainer or a nut milk bag to remove the pulp (the hazelnut pulp is fantastic stirred into pancake or muffin batter) and store the milk in a jar, shaking well before each use.
    Laura Mclively, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
  • This will allow the juice to filter through the strainer and into the bowl, leaving the pulp behind.
    Hannah Coakley, MSPH, RDN, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Novel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novel. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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