1
as in open
not known by only a select few
the mayor's plans to retire have been public knowledge for some time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unrestricted
freely available for use or participation by all
a public swimming pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in national
of or relating to a nation
a trade agreement in the public interest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in general
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
public sentiment was against the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group
public transportation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
the highbrows have always disdained his novels, but the public just eats them up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of public
Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Ongoing legal and feasibility assessments have slowed progress in implementing Measure H, a ballot measure passed in 2022 that would allow child care to be hosted at public parks and recreation centers.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The birds frequently venture out in public from parks, greenbelts and the American River Parkway.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public
Adjective
Since Sama workers’ claims became public, Ray-Ban Meta glasses have faced extra scrutiny.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Ongoing legal and feasibility assessments have slowed progress in implementing Measure H, a ballot measure passed in 2022 that would allow child care to be hosted at public parks and recreation centers.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
But what’s the point of public education without a public to educate?
—Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The birds frequently venture out in public from parks, greenbelts and the American River Parkway.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public
Adjective
-
The Patriots blew the game open with a six-run fifth, including an RBI single from Lindsay and one walk and one hit batter with the bases loaded to push across runs.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Lawmakers’ concerns revolve around the national security risks of sharing wide swaths of data and information with AI companies in China, which often provide cheaper, open source tools compared with their American counterparts.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Draisaitl is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2033.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Grier took a conservative approach to the trade deadline, only sending out defenseman Timothy Liljegren while keeping his other pending unrestricted free agents.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And just this week, more than 70 Democratic representatives called for maintaining barriers to Chinese cars for both national security and economic reasons.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
-
Davis will lead Solbari’s wholesale strategy, building a national network of sales representatives, securing retail partnerships and establishing a seasonal wholesale cadence.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Much like the demonstrations two decades ago, organizers on Friday also called for a general boycott — no school, no work, no shopping — in an effort to demand that the country put workers above billionaires by taxing the rich.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The one issue for Banchero, and the Magic in general, was free-throw shooting.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
More willing to put the collective goal of winning a title above all else.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
The Seahawks leaned on a collective pass rush rather than one dominant star, finishing the season as one of the league’s more effective defensive fronts.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The company still looks for unique characters, worlds that viewers may not regularly experience and stories that offer something more than just a tale well told.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Our impressively multicultural team of street racers now freelance in the shadowy and complex world of covert ops, jetting around the world to take down an increasingly unhinged array of nihilist supervillains.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Was Widow’s Bay a literal prison at one point, or is this a metaphor that speaks to how desperately the populace clings to the past?—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of Gladiators fighting for our entertainment, the emperors are shadowboxing before an angry populace.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In separate filings, both media outlets raised questions as to the validity of the NFL’s broadcast antitrust exemption, a provision established under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Cuba’s government displayed on the broadcast nautical maps to show where the Pro-Line was spotted, its route through Cuban waters and the location where the shooting occurred.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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