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?

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How to use circumstance in a sentence?

1. Michael Wilson:

   One of the reasons we are skeptical that the Fed and other central banks will be able to deliver on the policy tightening now expected is the fact that growth is already slowing, an unusual circumstance at the beginning of any monetary policy tightening cycle, and especially one that is so ambitious.

2. Cheryl Dorsey:

   Why didn't they deploy a Taser? If they didn't have one on scene, they should have had one with an officer who was responding as backup. What was the urgency? There was no exigent circumstance that the officers could not have waited until a Taser arrived on scene.

3. Baron Coleman:

   There's no circumstance that I think is legitimate that Joe Biden should enter White House, i think White House should burn down and I'm not saying that -- I'm not telling anyone to, but I'm just saying -- I literally believe that a bolt of lightning should hit the White House and light White House on fire before White House's handed over.

4. Russ Easter:

   I'm not aware of any circumstance like that.

5. Roger Stone:

   There is no circumstance whatsoever under which I will bear false witness against the President, nor will I make up lies to ease the pressure on Roger Stone.