What does "ariel" mean?
A kind of mountain gazelle, native to Arabia.
Ariel
/ˈɛɹiəl/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A kind of mountain gazelle, native to Arabia.
- Grammar: ariel is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: apollo, ari, banshee, befind.
- Useful contrasts: demon, mortal being, umbriel.
- Usage evidence: Not even Ariel Sharon denied the existence of the Palestinians. Yet we have people who are far less barbaric than Sharon, claiming that there is no such thing as the Palestinian people.
How to use "ariel"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ariel" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ariel" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ariel" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ariel" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ariel" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "apollo" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ariel", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A kind of mountain gazelle, native to Arabia.
- 2 Misspelling of aerial. alt-of, misspelling
Proper Noun
- 1 A name for the city of Jerusalem, the claimed (and de-facto) capital city of modern Israel, and the claimed capital city of modern Palestine.
"Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices."
- 2 A male given name from Hebrew, also ascribed to spirits and angels in English literature.
"Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding."
- 3 A female given name from Hebrew, used mainly since the 1980s.
""I'm going to name her Ariel," Laura said, ignoring them completely as she stared down at the baby. "The boys like the name because it's the same as the girl in the Little Mermaid movie. And I like it, because it's pretty.""
- 4 The brightest moon of the planet Uranus.
- 5 An Israeli settlement and city in the central West Bank.
Example
"Not even Ariel Sharon denied the existence of the Palestinians. Yet we have people who are far less barbaric than Sharon, claiming that there is no such thing as the Palestinian people."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ariel"?
Common synonyms include: apollo, ari, banshee, befind, brownie, cluricaune.
How do you use "ariel" in a sentence?
Not even Ariel Sharon denied the existence of the Palestinians. Yet we have people who are far less barbaric than Sharon, claiming that there is no such thing as the Palestinian people.
How do you pronounce "ariel"?
Pronounced /ˈɛɹiəl/.
Etymology
From Biblical Hebrew אֲרִיאֵל (ari'él, a compound of אֲרִי (arí, “lion”) + אֵל (él, “God”), literally “lion of God”). * (moon of Uranus): All of Uranus’s moons are named after characters created by William Shakespeare or Alexander Pope. The names of all four satellites of Uranus then known were suggested by John Herschel in 1852 at the request of William Lassell, though it is uncertain if Herschel devised the names, or if Lassell did so and then sought Herschel’s permission. Ariel is the name of the leading sylph in Pope’s The Rape of the Lock and also the spirit who serves Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.