ENTER Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'enter' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate , pierce , and probe . While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in. // entered the city in triumph

Q: Where would 'penetrate' be a reasonable alternative to 'enter'?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance. // the enemy penetrated the fortress

Q: When can 'pierce' be used instead of 'enter'?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument. // pierced the boil with a lancet

Q: When is it sensible to use 'probe' instead of 'enter'?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge. // probed the depths of the sea

enter

verb

ˈen-tər

Definition of enter next

as in to penetrate

to go or come in or into the hikers entered the cave with considerable caution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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as in to join

to become a member of patriotic young men and women entering the armed services debutantes entering society

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as in to record

to put (someone or something) on a list new voters fill out a form and elections officials enter their names into the database

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delete

as in to receive

to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the club enters only five new members a year

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enter are penetrate, pierce, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

Where would penetrate be a reasonable alternative to enter?

While the synonyms penetrate and enter are close in meaning, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When can pierce be used instead of enter?

Although the words pierce and enter have much in common, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When is it sensible to use probe instead of enter?

In some situations, the words probe and enter are roughly equivalent. However, probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Examples 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 enter Coming in at just one-minute long, the clip first shared to K. Dot’s official YouTube page begins with the camera entering a large room featuring two cars on either side and what appears to be a large skylight resembling a portal between them. —

Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 22 Nov. 2024 Anyone can apply to enter, submissions are free, and the deadline for entry is December 12, 2024. —

Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024 President Joe Biden has done the same, though EVs made in China have not entered the U.S. Marcus Wassenberg, managing director at Ford's German division, said the move reflected the car industry's ongoing changes, singling out Germany for its high labor and energy costs. —

Nick Carey, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024 Over the past year, there have been signs that China and North Korea have entered another rough patch. —

Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for enter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enter

Verb

The carpet cleaner uses a liquid solution to penetrate your carpet and remove stains and spills, leaving the result brighter and spotless.

Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
In early Thirties Germany, as the Nazi threat grew, the state’s propaganda machine began to penetrate the dream life of its citizenry.

Zadie Smith, The New York Review of Books, 10 Nov. 2024