Synonyms for universal
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Common
general, common, ecumenical, comprehensive, catholic, world-wide, generic, epidemic, pandemic, cosmopolitan, sweeping, ecumenic rare
2. General-purpose — useful for many purposes; all-purpose
Other
wide-spread, cosmic, cosmical dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Unlimited; vast; infinite.
- adj. 2
Useful for many purposes; all-purpose.
- adj. 3
Of or pertaining to the universe.
- adj. 4
Common to all members of a group or class.
Choose the right word
Universal applies to all without exception; general applies to all with possible or comparatively slight exceptions; common applies to very many without deciding whether they are even a majority.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- comprehensive Sami made a very comprehensive list of the items.
- cosmic If the universe is a cosmic egg, then who laid it?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| universal | rising | |
| comprehensive | falling | |
| cosmic | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- all1
- 5 letters
- whole1, total2
- 6 letters
- common2, entire3, cosmic2
- 7 letters
- general3, generic3
- 8 letters
- complete2, catholic2, infinite3, epidemic4, sweeping2, pandemic3, ecumenic, cosmical
- 9 letters
- unlimited4, limitless3, boundless2
- 10 letters
- ecumenical5
- 12 letters
- cosmopolitan5
- 13 letters
- comprehensive4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (total2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- universel
- Italiano
- universale
- Español
- universal
- Deutsch
- Universal