1
as in open
not known by only a select few
the mayor's plans to retire have been public knowledge for some time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unrestricted
freely available for use or participation by all
a public swimming pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in national
of or relating to a nation
a trade agreement in the public interest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in general
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
public sentiment was against the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group
public transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
the highbrows have always disdained his novels, but the public just eats them up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of public
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
In the December e-mail chain among Riverside’s lay leadership, the city’s public preschool programs again came up as a rationale for shutting down Weekday.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2025
Kyiv is far better protected than many other Ukrainian cities that are routinely hit, and the air force warned that the Kremlin had the capability to expand its campaign to shatter Ukraine’s energy grid and punish the Ukrainian public.
—Marc Santora, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for public 
Adjective
Why did the singer, fiercely private, go so public in his support of Donald Trump during his final years, posting furious MAGA missives that horrified many longtime friends and fans?
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
In the December e-mail chain among Riverside’s lay leadership, the city’s public preschool programs again came up as a rationale for shutting down Weekday.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
These efforts to redress the excesses of the Mao era won Hu much support from within the party and among the wider public.
—Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2025
Kyiv is far better protected than many other Ukrainian cities that are routinely hit, and the air force warned that the Kremlin had the capability to expand its campaign to shatter Ukraine’s energy grid and punish the Ukrainian public.
—Marc Santora, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for public
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public
Adjective
-
Plates heaped with rice and aromatic curries showcase the island’s culinary riches, while orange king coconuts are cracked open and offered as a sweet, refreshing balm to the humid heat.—
Christine Chitnis,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Butler was open to signing such a deal early in the negotiating window, but his mind-set changed when the extension wasn’t immediately offered by the Heat.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Savard carries a $3.5 million cap hit and is an unrestricted free agent after this season.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Stay Or Go? Green Bay’s class of unrestricted free agents is led by center Josh Myers and kicker Brandon McManus.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
As governor, Newsom took advantage of the state’s position as the liberal antithesis to Trump to elevate his own national profile during the president-elect’s first term.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2025
-
The woman explains that her 18-year-old son had recently transitioned and had at last received his national identity card confirming his gender.—
Julian Sancton,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Sheila Ford Hamp stepped up to support general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell when the Detroit Lions were 4-18-1 under their leadership.—
Larry Lage,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Tickets for the events go on sale later this week, with a War Child presale taking place this Thursday (Jan. 16) before a general sale on Friday (Jan. 17) at 10 a.m. GMT.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In this new environment, electrons move slowly enough for their collective electrical interactions to guide their behavior.—
Charlie Wood,
WIRED,
12 Jan. 2025
-
This universal truth not only drives her culinary ambitions, but also underscores her call to inclusion as well as her resilience in the face of evolving personal and collective identities.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
My world now is, ‘What’s Liam Delap’s pressing angle?—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
-
Living in a privacy-forward digital world isn’t entirely bad news for e-commerce brands, though.—
Manu Mathew,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the birth rate has dipped to just 1.4 children per woman, portending a shrinking, aging populace.—
By Charlie Campbell/Gelephu, Bhutan,
TIME,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Now Maduro is determined that the populace that humiliated him on election day must pay.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The show falls under the broadcast direct deal Hudson and his producing partner Stalberg signed with Fox in 2023.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2024
-
Fox is adding another veteran writer and producer to its roster of broadcast direct deals.—
Rick Porter,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near public
Cite this Entry
“Public.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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