Synonyms for familiar
- adjective
- noun
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Close — intimate or friendly
common, close, intimate, friendly, versed, easy, fresh, chummy, affable, informal, near, personal, thick, free, gracious, social, sociable, cordial, unconstrained, cheeky, impudent, amicable
2. Acquainted
acquainted, accustomed, conversant, usual, everyday, habitual, general, informed, wonted, routine, au fait
Other
well-known, popular, free and easy, colloquial informal, trite, unceremonious, unreserved
Noun
Definitions
- adj. 1
Intimate or friendly.
Don’t be familiar with me, boy!
- adj. 2
Known to one, or generally known; commonplace.
There’s a familiar face; that tune sounds familiar.
- n. 1
An attendant spirit, often in animal or demon form.
The witch’s familiar was a black cat.
Related words
- Word family
- familiarization familiarize familiarity familiarly familial
- Is a kind of
- common customary everyday normal regular
Forms
- Plural
- familiars → associates, fellows, friends, companions…
Example sentences
- friendly My boyfriend is smart, handsome, and friendly too.
- versed He is the less well versed of the two teachers.
- affable Many extroverted people are at least somewhat affable.
- chummy They're chummy with all their neighbours.
- accustomed I am accustomed to studying English every evening.
- acquainted He is well acquainted with the history of England.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| familiar | rising | |
| friendly | rising | |
| versed | steady | |
| affable | rising | |
| chummy | rising | |
| accustomed | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- free1, easy2, near1
- 5 letters
- close1, fresh1, usual3, thick1, trite1
- 6 letters
- social2, friend1, common2, fellow2, cheeky2, versed1, chummy2, wonted, nigget
- 7 letters
- general3, popular3, routine2, comrade2, cordial2, affable3
- 8 letters
- personal3, friendly2, everyday3, informed2, intimate3, informal3, gracious2, habitual4, sociable3, amicable4, impudent
- 9 letters
- household2, associate4, companion3
- 10 letters
- accustomed3, acquainted3, colloquial4, unreserved, conversant3
- 13 letters
- unconstrained3, unceremonious6
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (easy2 = 2 syllables).