Synonyms for topic

17 synonyms
2 meanings

noun

Most common

ground subject purpose theme item thread thesis query

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Issue

question, issue, matter

2. Subject — A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest

subject, ground

Other

theme, thread, text, point, head, thesis, query, purpose, item, proposition, affair, burden

Definitions

n. 1
A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
an interesting topic of conversation
n. 2
A discussion thread.

Related words

Word family: topical

Forms

Plural: topics → questions, issues, matters, subjects…

Choose the right word

Topic, Question or Issue?

Since a topic for discussion is often stated in the form of a question, question has come to be extensively used to denote a debatable topic, especially of a practical nature--an issue; as, the labor question; the temperance question.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

ground In Singapore, it is a crime to spit on the ground.
subject A man of strong will is not subject to corruption.
purpose What is the main purpose of your studying English?
theme Benedito will ride the monorail at the theme park.
item The ordered item will be delivered to you by mail.
thread Which would be better, red thread or white thread?

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
topic		rising
ground		steady
subject		falling
purpose		falling
theme		steady
item		falling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: head¹, text¹, item²
5 letters: point¹, issue², theme¹, query²
6 letters: matter², ground¹, thread¹, affair², burden², thesis²
7 letters: subject², purpose²
8 letters: question²
11 letters: proposition⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (item² = 2 syllables).