Synonyms for modern
- adjective
Most common
advanced innovative forward-looking modernistic mod contemporary
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Advanced
2. Modernistic
3. Contemporary
contemporary, new, fashionable, present-day, present, new-fashioned, stylish, late, ultramodern, current, fresh, modish, recent, extant, existent, novel, latter, today's, zeitgeisty informal rare
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Pertaining to a current or recent time and style; not ancient.
Our online interactive game is a modern approach to teaching about gum disease. Although it was built in the 1600s, the building still has a very modern look.
- adj. 2
Pertaining to the modern period (c.1800 to contemporary times), particularly in academic historiography.
Related words
Choose the right word
Modern denotes that which has begun to exist in the present age, and is still existing; recent denotes that which has come into existence within a comparatively brief period, and may or may not be existing still.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- contemporary I must admit I don't like much contemporary music.
- progressive Algeria needs a new pan-Algerian progressive party.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| modern | steady | |
| contemporary | rising | |
| progressive | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- new1, mod1
- 4 letters
- late1
- 5 letters
- fresh1, novel2
- 6 letters
- recent2, latter2, extant2, modish
- 7 letters
- current2, present2, stylish2
- 8 letters
- advanced2, existent3
- 10 letters
- innovative4, zeitgeisty
- 11 letters
- progressive3, fashionable4, modernistic, ultramodern4
- 12 letters
- contemporary5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (novel2 = 2 syllables).