1
as in doctrines
a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church
members of the church must abide by its canons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in lists
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system
the canon of plays that are attributed to William Shakespeare
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in laws
a collection or system of rules of conduct
the ABA Model Code of Professional Responsibility is a lawyer's canon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 canons
The attack was massive, involving nearly 50,000 infantry and cavalry as well as 58 canons.
—
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026
Solak continued, saying that Smith’s arrest would be investigated by diocese officials and follow church canons that handle clergy misconduct.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
The Stockholm Series reminded me that one function of canons is to create solidarity.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Both male and female idols (and the crowds) are drenched by water canons throughout the festival.
—Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2025
It is eventually revealed that Kawaji was also the man who gave the order to fire canons at the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, killing samurai on both sides after the outcome had been decided.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 13 Nov. 2025
There are no canons of forgery in Quintilian’s Institutes or Cicero.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Confetti canons shot out glittering rainbows, and Derevjanik began to dance around, shouting in glee.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
Peppard believes that before organizations can deliver on the transformational potential of AI, or indeed any transformational technology, there are multiple canons defining the dominant orthodoxy that must be tackled head-on.
—Randy Bean, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026
Solak continued, saying that Smith’s arrest would be investigated by diocese officials and follow church canons that handle clergy misconduct.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
The Stockholm Series reminded me that one function of canons is to create solidarity.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Both male and female idols (and the crowds) are drenched by water canons throughout the festival.
—Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2025
It is eventually revealed that Kawaji was also the man who gave the order to fire canons at the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, killing samurai on both sides after the outcome had been decided.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 13 Nov. 2025
There are no canons of forgery in Quintilian’s Institutes or Cicero.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Confetti canons shot out glittering rainbows, and Derevjanik began to dance around, shouting in glee.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
Peppard believes that before organizations can deliver on the transformational potential of AI, or indeed any transformational technology, there are multiple canons defining the dominant orthodoxy that must be tackled head-on.
—Randy Bean, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canons
Noun
-
When citizens insist on shaping the basic terms of social life by appealing to premises that others cannot reasonably be expected to accept—revelation, doctrines of transcendence, private moral visions—the result is not a purer politics but a dangerously brittle one.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This theology leaves little room for the restraint that characterized earlier security doctrines.—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After gaining national attention in leading UConn to nine wins and a second consecutive bowl berth, Fagnano began appearing on draft analysts’ lists as a late-round pick, or undrafted free agent.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Placement on the two entity lists severely restricted Daqo New Energy’s ability to sell its goods to Americans.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The indictment also charges Meade and West each with one count of conspiracy to obstruct and defeat the Internal Revenue Service, five counts of attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws and seven counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false documents, officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The humbling end to a mercifully brief career should be a warning to anyone else who might try to get elected by brazenly flouting the disclosure laws.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That was nearly six times the amount raised and three times the number of new listings in the same period last year, KPMG said.—
Justina Lee,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws.—
David A. Lieb,
Twin Cities,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Homeowner preferences hard-coded into state constitutions decades ago now further sustain the gerontocracy.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Connecticut updates its state building and fire codes every four years, and those rules govern many of the details on how new development goes up in the state.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Kelsey Arends, senior staff attorney for Nebraska Appleseed, an advocacy group, said the state’s long list of medical billing codes for conditions that would be exempted is still not long enough.—
Phil Galewitz,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canons. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
