SORT Synonyms: 242 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sort 1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯrt

Definition of sort

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yard art of any sort is a bad idea, according to Jonathan Self, a real estate broker at Compass. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 21 Sep. 2026 But Clemson reeled the Tar Heels back in, slowing down a rushing attack led by Benjamin Hall (130 rushing yards) and making quarterback Billy Edwards, by the end, look flustered and out of sorts. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2026

Verb

After McCartney emailed Collins to sort things out, the Genesis musician didn’t reply. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026 Whatever electronic gremlins the first models came out with have long been sorted. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sort

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sort

Noun

The tie-in between the world’s largest beauty company and reigning two-time UEFA Champions League winner will last through 2028, and is the first of its kind for L’Oréal.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
In groundbreaking litigation, Munkittrick is leading the charge for Warner Music Group in a first-of-its-kind case arguing that the major labels’ licensing of sound recordings for generative AI training violates the Sound Recording Labor Agreement.

— Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of kind

Noun

Being able to have the in-person connectivity with talking to your coworkers, being able to collaborate, is great and then also the larger programming of the company as a whole.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
One person was killed in a strike on Riyadh airport, a Saudia Airlines plane was reportedly in flames, and hundreds of flights have been canceled.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of person

Verb

Only 15 were classified as youth- or student-led groups, while the remaining 35 included communist organizations, labor groups, political organizations and professional protest coordinators.

— Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Near the epicenter, the agency estimated an intensity of VIII, classified as severe on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, which measures how strongly the ground shakes at individual locations.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of classify

Verb

The story follows Emily, an American woman who travels with Simon, her Chinese Malaysian husband, and their son Louis to spend the summer at his family’s mansion.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Many of the units come with full kitchens and have one or two bedrooms making it ideally for families or those traveling in a group.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of travel

Verb

The team broke down Mario’s possible path through a level into individual sections, each corresponding to a calculation instruction of the counting machine.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 6 Oct. 2026
Yet, in many cases, the necessary control systems to manage corresponding risks have not yet been put into place.

— Jeffrey Bartel, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of correspond

Noun

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 led three runners to historic highs in London, with Sabastian Sawe — the race’s men’s winner — and fellow three-stripes athlete Yomif Kejelcha both breaking the sub-2-hour marathon barrier for the first time.

— Katie Abel, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2026
Governments across Europe of every political stripe are tightening integration rules.

— Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of stripe

Verb

Grant’s comeback hopefully will bode well to an interior defensive line unit that has the Dolphins playing admirable—ranked 15th—against the run.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
Their continued descent down the rankings is also likely having an effect on how AP voters rank Boise State.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of rank

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sort

sorted

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Style

“Sort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sort. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sort

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing sort

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

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