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Some common synonyms of sort<\/em> are character<\/em><\/a>, description<\/em><\/a>, kind<\/em><\/a>, nature<\/em><\/a>, and type<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities,\" sort<\/em> often suggests some disparagement.<\/p>

\/\/ the sort<\/em> of newspaper dealing in sensational stories<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'character' take the place of 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms character<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> are close in meaning, character<\/em> implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.<\/p>

\/\/ research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'description' instead of 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words description<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but description<\/em> implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.<\/p>

\/\/ not all acts of that description<\/em> are actually illegal<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'kind' be a better fit than 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms kind<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but kind<\/em> may suggest natural grouping.<\/p>

\/\/ a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'nature' be used to replace 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to sort<\/em>, nature<\/em><\/a> may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.<\/p>

\/\/ two problems of a similar nature<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'type' a more appropriate choice than 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words type<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, type<\/em> may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.<\/p>

\/\/ one of three basic body types<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is the word 'sort' distinct from other similar nouns?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Some common synonyms of sort<\/em> are character<\/em><\/a>, description<\/em><\/a>, kind<\/em><\/a>, nature<\/em><\/a>, and type<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities,\" sort<\/em> often suggests some disparagement.<\/p>

\/\/ the sort<\/em> of newspaper dealing in sensational stories<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'character' take the place of 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms character<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> are close in meaning, character<\/em> implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.<\/p>

\/\/ research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'description' instead of 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words description<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but description<\/em> implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.<\/p>

\/\/ not all acts of that description<\/em> are actually illegal<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'kind' be a better fit than 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms kind<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but kind<\/em> may suggest natural grouping.<\/p>

\/\/ a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'nature' be used to replace 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to sort<\/em>, nature<\/em><\/a> may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.<\/p>

\/\/ two problems of a similar nature<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'type' a more appropriate choice than 'sort'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words type<\/em><\/a> and sort<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, type<\/em> may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.<\/p>

\/\/ one of three basic body types<\/em><\/p>" } } ] }

sort 1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯrt How to pronounce sort (audio)
Definition of sortnext
1
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common I prefer jackets with zippers to the sort that close with buttons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in person
a member of the human race he's a decent sort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sort

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type sorted the mail into bills to be paid and junk to be thrown out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to travel
to come or be together as friends you should be careful about whom you sort with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to correspond
to be in agreement on every point that doesn't sort with what you said the last time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character, description, kind, nature, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

How is the word sort distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sort are character, description, kind, nature, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can character take the place of sort?

While the synonyms character and sort are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of sort?

The words description and sort can be used in similar contexts, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might kind be a better fit than sort?

The synonyms kind and sort are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace sort?

While in some cases nearly identical to sort, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is type a more appropriate choice than sort?

In some situations, the words type and sort are roughly equivalent. However, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

Example 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 sort
Noun
But his 45-minute state of the county address was equally a declaration of sorts about something bigger than the budget. —Stephen Fowler, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026 Gambling was legalized there in 1931, and the rest is history as the city became known as a glittering hub for risqué shows and gambling of all sorts. —Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
The city maintains that the lid lifters, besides trolling for batteries and propane tanks, are part of an education program to help residents understand the city’s totally insane trash-sorting rules. —Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 Moreover, the newspaper said, more advanced ones support humans in sorting and packaging. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort
  1. kind
  2. person
  3. classify
  4. travel
  5. correspond
  6. guy
  7. rank
  8. associate
Noun
  • Christgau may indeed be one of the last of his kind — hopefully this won’t be my last review.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Claimed to be the world’s first of its kind, the trial involved Oceanus12 USV and Teledyne Slocum Glider.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • Since early February, residents of the Big Bend region have been outspoken about border wall plans — both on social media and through in-person events hosted in cities in Brewster and Presidio counties.
    — Lexi Salazar, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
  • In October 2025, an attacker drove his car into people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and stabbed one person to death.
    — KRUTIKA PATHI, Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of person
Verb
  • The Minnetonka Fire Department classified Johnson's death as a line-of-duty death.
    — Ray Campos, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The French philosopher argued that the author is not a true creator but a functional, historical construct designed to classify and limit the meaning of texts.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of classify
Verb
  • Earlier this week, an asteroid weighing about 7 tons and traveling at 45,000 mph traveled over multiple states.
    — Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • While a new museum for its display is being built in Jerusalem, a selection of objects has traveled to the United States for the first time.
    — Sarah Kozlowski, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of travel
Verb
  • Researchers believe some kind of ritual marked this massive deposit, as the feasting and decorative objects might correspond to an event that might have propelled the stashing away of these astonishing artifacts, as per Heritage Daily.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The researcher says that because antimatter particles are more massive than matter particles, during pair production in the early universe, the antimatter particles were slower than the corresponding matter particles.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of correspond
Noun
  • But Hubert Davis was ultimately not the right guy to lead the UNC basketball program.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
  • You guys keep putting that crap out there.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of guy
Verb
  • Here are three stocks favored by some of Wall Street's top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Waddle ranked 38th in the NFL in targets last year in Miami, and tied for 60th the year before.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • About 93% of 35,000 villages, towns and cities selected their mayors in the first round last week, with mostly one or two candidates, not associated with any party, competing.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
  • By then, Pahlavi was surrounded by a younger entourage of analysts and advisers, some of whom were brash figures once associated with the country’s reformist student movement.
    — Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of associate

Phrases Containing sort

Browse Nearby Words

sorry
sort
sorted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sort for Spanish Speakers

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