Synonyms for except
- preposition
- verb
Most common
Definitions
- prep. 1
Used to introduce an exception or qualification to something previously stated.
There was nothing in the cupboard except a tin of beans.
- v. 1
To exclude; to specify as being an exception.
I find most people annoying — present company excepted, of course!
Related words
- Word family
- exception
- Phrases
- except for
Forms
- Past participle
- excepted
e.g. excepted → excluded, omitted, rejected, objected…
Choose the right word
In restrictive use, except and excepting are slightly more emphatic than but; we say, no injury but a scratch; or, no injury except some painful bruises.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- besides There was no one in the room besides Tom and Mary.
- excluding All the members of our club, excluding me, are men.
- barring We'll be home by sunset barring accidents.
- beside An apple, half eaten, lay beside the kitchen sink.
By length
- 3 letters
- but1, bar1
- 4 letters
- save1, omit2
- 5 letters
- demur2
- 6 letters
- saving2, object2, beside2, reject2, exempt2
- 7 letters
- without2, besides2, exclude2, barring2, outtake2
- 9 letters
- excluding3
- 11 letters
- expostulate
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (omit2 = 2 syllables).