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

How to pronounce circumstance?

How to say circumstance in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use circumstance in a sentence?

1. Dianne Feinstein:

   This is not only the definition of tragedy, it's the special circumstance called for by the death penalty law.

2. Coroner Emma R. Hall:

   An autopsy has been completed, at this time neither the autopsy or the investigation have provided any evidence that the baby exhibited any signs of life outside of the womb, therefore the circumstance is not being considered a live birth. No evidence of trauma or injuries were found on the body.

3. Trent Baggett:

   It’s not envisioned to be a circumstance where there’s going to be a camera every five miles down the road on every single road in Oklahoma, we anticipate having them moved around the state and they would be in some fairly high-traffic areas. It doesn’t do a whole lot of good to have one of these set up in a place where there’s not a lot of traffic.

4. Andrew Yang:

   We are only in week one of this economic shutdown, by the time you get to week four or five, many people will be in desperate circumstance and that is what we need to prevent as soon as possible.

5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards:

   The admitted and repeated use of racial slurs by a judge who has taken an oath to administer justice fairly and impartially is wrong, period. There is never any circumstance or context in which such derogatory and degrading language is okay, sadly, inequities still exist in society and in our judicial system. District Judge Jessie LeBlanc has compromised District Judge Jessie LeBlanc ability to preside as a judge, and District Judge Jessie LeBlanc has damaged the judiciary. District Judge Jessie LeBlanc should resign. The people of the 23rd Judicial District and our state deserve better.