commencements

noun

plural of commencement
as in beginnings
the point at which something begins there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commencements The students booing artificial intelligence at commencements across the country are not just worried about jobs. — Mark Bardeen Andrejevic, Washington Post, 10 July 2026 Recent Harvard commencements have grown much more political. — Michael Casey, Fortune, 29 May 2026 Originally called MarchingOrder, Tassel had provided services for commencements for around 20 years before adding the AI name offering. — Kendall Staton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2026 By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencements
  1. beginnings
  2. inceptions
  3. starts
  4. onsets
  5. alphas
  6. launches
Noun
  • Inspired by the Spanish luxury house’s own beginnings as an artisanal workshop, the award intends to recognize excellence and innovation in craft in all its forms.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • And Royal Enfield, which is now one of the most recognizable brands on the planet, has had an even longer, stranger journey from its British beginnings to becoming an Indian motorcycle powerhouse.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of beginnings
Noun
  • Eddie Buehler went 22 for 32 with 201 yards, two TDs and a pair of inceptions for the Black Bears (1-3).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of inceptions
Noun
  • Is this the same guy who caught 49 passes for 610 yards in 15 starts for Dallas two years ago?
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Research has found that produce starts to lose nutritional value as soon as it’s harvested.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of starts
Noun
  • Experts said the second earthquake began before the first had even ended, with the two onsets separated by just 39 seconds.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Anxiety disorders can persist into adulthood, particularly those disorders with early onsets and those that are left untreated.
    — Elana Bernstein, The Conversation, 13 May 2022
Definition of onsets
Noun
  • In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
  • As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.
    — Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Definition of alphas
Noun
  • The launch complex was originally built in the 1960s to host launches of a different megarocket — NASA's Saturn V, which sent the Apollo moon missions skyward.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • New oil-in-serum launches from mass-market drugstore brands over the next two quarters.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of launches

Browse Nearby Words

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commencements
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Cite this Entry

“Commencements.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencements. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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