Synonyms for circumstance
ˈsɜr kəmˌstæns; esp. Brit. -stənscir·cum·stance

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 4 votes

1. circumstance

   A circumstance (Latin circum, around, and sto, stand), is something existing or occurring in connection with or relation to some other fact or event, modifying or throwing light upon the principal matter without affecting its essential character; an accompaniment is something that unites with the principal matter, tho not necessary to it; as, the piano accompaniment to a song; a concomitant goes with a thing in natural connection, but in a subordinate capacity, or perhaps in contrast; as, cheerfulness is a concomitant of virtue. A circumstance is not strictly, nor usually, an occasion, condition, effect, or result. (See these words under CAUSE.) Nor is the circumstance properly an incident. (See under ACCIDENT.) We say, "My decision will depend upon circumstances" — not "upon incidents." That a man wore a blue necktie would not probably be the cause, occasion, condition, or concomitant of his committing murder; but it might be a very important circumstance in identifying him as the murderer. All the circumstances make up the situation. A certain disease is the cause of a man's death; his suffering is an incident; that he is in his own home, that he has good medical attendance, careful nursing, etc., are consolatory circumstances. With the same idea of subordination, we often say, "This is not a circumstance to that." So a person is said to be in easy circumstances. Compare EVENT.

   Synonyms:
   accompaniment, concomitant, detail, event, fact, feature, incident, item, occurrence, particular, point, position, situation

   Preposition:
   "Mere situation is expressed by 'in the circumstances'; action affected is performed 'under the circumstances.'" [Murray's "New English Dictionary"]

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. circumstance

   Synonyms:
   detail, feature, point, event, occurrence, incident, situation, position, fact, topic, condition, particular, specialty

   Antonyms:
   deed, case, transaction

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. circumstancenoun

   a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

   Synonyms:
   condition, context, setting, consideration

2. context, circumstance, settingnoun

   the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event

   "the historical context"

   Synonyms:
   context of use, setting, background, stage setting, mount, scope, mise en scene, linguistic context, consideration, context, scene, place setting, condition

3. circumstance, condition, considerationnoun

   information that should be kept in mind when making a decision

   "another consideration is the time it would take"

   Synonyms:
   condition, retainer, setting, shape, status, precondition, thoughtfulness, term, consideration, context, considerateness, experimental condition, stipulation

4. circumstancenoun

   formal ceremony about important occasions

   "pomp and circumstance"

   Synonyms:
   condition, context, setting, consideration

Matched Categories

1. • Ceremony
   • Condition
   • Information

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. circumstancenoun

   Synonyms:
   incident, accident, subsidiary fact

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "circumstance":

   circumstances, improvised, situation, fact, circumstantial

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How to use circumstance in a sentence?

1. Patrick Auerbach:

   This is an extraordinary circumstance, and this is an injustice, and we owe it to these families, if we want to really, you know, talk the talk with our values, our core values as an institution, then we need to walk the walk, and that's what we're doing in this case.

2. Houston Texans:

   I understand the whole circumstance is very difficult, especially for the women’s side – the fans in this community. I’m not naive to that, i know these allegations are very, very serious but like I mentioned before, I’ve never assaulted any woman. I never disrespected any woman. I was raised by a single parent mom … that’s who raised me.

3. Paul Hope:

   It's very often, that sort of desperate circumstance in the immediate aftermath of the storm -- people who have not used the generator ever maybe have no idea that it's as dangerous as it is or thinking the warning is overstated. And it really isn't.

4. Victor Frankl:

   There were always choices to make. Every day, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision, a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you become the plaything to circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity to become molded into the form of the typical inmate.

5. Sayuri Shirai:

   By not acting, the BOJ might risk its credibility. Such a circumstance would not only render my outlook unfeasible but would also undermine the feasibility of the 2 percent target.