Thesaurus results for PERIOD

Q: How does the noun 'period' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of period are age , epoch , and era . While all these words mean "a division of time," period may designate an extent of time of any length. // periods of economic prosperity

Q: When is 'age' a more appropriate choice than 'period'?

The synonyms age and period are sometimes interchangeable, but age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature. // the age of Samuel Johnson

Q: When might 'epoch' be a better fit than 'period'?

In some situations, the words epoch and period are roughly equivalent. However, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events. // the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

Q: When would 'era' be a good substitute for 'period'?

The words era and period can be used in similar contexts, but era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things. // the era of global communications

period

noun

ˈpir-ē-əd

Definition of period

as in monthlies

an occurrence of menstruating she hoped her period wouldn't start until she got home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in day

an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the Romantic period in music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun period differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of period are age, epoch, and era. While all these words mean "a division of time," period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

When is age a more appropriate choice than period?

The synonyms age and period are sometimes interchangeable, but age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

When might epoch be a better fit than period?

In some situations, the words epoch and period are roughly equivalent. However, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

When would era be a good substitute for period?

The words era and period can be used in similar contexts, but era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

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 period Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza over the same period. — Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026 According to Exemplar, associates at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue are seeing higher overall sales this year than during the same period in 2025, though the company would not say by how much. — Rachel Felder, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2026 The city is lagging compared with major cities in terms of ridership on its public transit system, when comparing pre- and post-pandemic periods. — Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 The lack of an early-summer launch in 2026 left the brand without new products during one of the category’s busiest periods. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for period

Recent Examples of Synonyms for period

Noun

Though the real Lizzie Borden’s periods weren’t out of the ordinary, periods in general terrified the men of the day, who believed that menstruation could cause women to commit crimes.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Unlike the inner lining of the uterus, endometriosis tissue doesn’t leave the body during menstruation, and cysts and adhesions can sometimes develop.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of menstruation

Noun

Mbappé did, however, post a video of himself cycling on social media over the weekend, days after his Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho, said that activity is one soccer players should avoid.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Some 10 days after the attack, the soldiers were loaded onto a cargo plane.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of day

Noun

Moore has publicly endorsed the use of smelling salts by football players, singing their praises in a 2024 Wall Street Journal article about their popularity among UM players during the Jim Harbaugh era.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
This time last year, Deadline profiled Shaka iLembe, the South African-shot story of King Shaka, the famous pre-colonial era Zulu ruler.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of era

Noun

Bryan pushed back at the time, arguing that the song spoke to both sides of the aisle and urging fans not to let social media narratives divide them.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
The last time the Congress voted to go to year-round Daylight Saving Time was during the Nixon years.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of time

Noun

Of all the factors that can increase a person’s risk of breast cancer, age is among the most significant.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
The island’s permanent Art House invites guests—of all ages—to get creative on canvas or pottery with the guidance of its resident artist.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of age

Noun

But more massive PBHs would last longer, with those roughly the mass of an asteroid enduring to evaporate in our current cosmic epoch.

— Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
The hero – rather than old technology – is an epoch of cosmological history called Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, or BBN.

— Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of epoch

Browse Nearby Words

perimeters

period

periodic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of period

noun

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