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novel

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective novel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of novel are fresh, new, and original. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

When could fresh be used to replace novel?

While the synonyms fresh and novel are close in meaning, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

In what contexts can new take the place of novel?

Although the words new and novel have much in common, new may apply to what is freshly made and unused, what has not been known before, or what has not been experienced before.

new brick
new designs
starts the new job

When might original be a better fit than novel?

The meanings of original and novel largely overlap; however, original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

Examples 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 novel
Noun
Based on the novel by Sarah Dressen, the feature adaption was written by Sofia Alvarez and also stars Dermot Mulroney, Andie MacDowell, and Kate Bosworth. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025 The original Twilight novel was released in 2005, followed by New Moon in 2006, Eclipse in 2007 and Breaking Dawn in 2008. Gil MacIas, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The third and final season of Amazon Prime Video's adaptation of Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's novel Good Omens, on which Gaiman was showrunner, has been reduced to one episode, and Gaiman will not be involved in the production. Christian Holub, EW.com, 15 Jan. 2025 The story is based on the novel Home Bitter Home by Sim Yoon-seo and adapted by Lee Seo-yoon, who wrote the screenplays for 365: Repeat The Year and Jung-Yi, Goddess of Fire. Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for novel 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novel
Noun
  • However, now the scandal has spread out of Britain to U.S. staff and American publications, the pro-Meghan narrative no longer contains a baked in explanation for the existence of the anti-Meghan perspective.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
  • However, as institutional players co-opt its narrative, its fundamental properties are threatened.
    Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The next year, Hao Jingfang became the first Chinese woman to win a Hugo, for her novelette Folding Beijing.
    Yi-Ling Liu, Wired, 9 Mar. 2021
  • The backstory of the novelette kept picking at my brain.
    Andrew Liptak, The Verge, 18 Sep. 2018
Adjective
  • Former White House advisor Steve Bannon has also taken issue with Musk, who Trump tapped to co-lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • In fact, he’s become an unexpected new conservative cause celebre as a growing contingent of commentators take his side.
    Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The film, which stars Dern, Justin Theroux, and Jeremy Irons, is another meditation on Hollywood, blurring the lines between layers of fiction and dizzyingly captured with a digital camcorder.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
  • This read will especially appeal to those who have an affinity for historical fiction authors like Vanessa Riley (Island Queen, Queen of Exiles), Piper Hughley (By Her Own Design, American Daughters), and Victoria Christopher Murray (The First Ladies, The Personal Librarian).
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Gannaway’s monograph, Remember Me, was published last year by GOST Books.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2024
  • The most comprehensive study of Hokusai to date joins a monograph of David Hockney’s works on paper.
    Jeanne Malle, airmail.news, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Williams, for those who are unfamiliar, started out as a member of the wildly beloved English boy band Take That in the early 1990s.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
  • When host Henry Louis Gates Jr. identifies her great grandparents, Saverio and Maria Rosa, Behar admits that the names are unfamiliar.
    Esther Kang, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Written in first person and full of anecdotes, this book is a nice, modern complement to the historical books on this list.
    Will McGough, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • But one of the movie’s most heartwarming anecdotes involves her father bringing her to a songwriting competition.
    Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Pantera tries to build off of the legacy of that first glorious slab of pulp cinema without replicating it — Gudegast isn’t interested in mounting a copy of a copy.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
  • This version has spun off into different directions, such as a far future edition and books that explore the pulp fantasy settings that inspired this style of game.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near novel

Cite this Entry

“Novel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novel. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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