Adoption for gay and lesbian parents remains a hotly contested issue in the United States.
Source: tatoeba (754825)
Adoption
/əˈdɑp.ʃən/
Synonyms for "adoption" (106 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (22)
Noun(11 words)
acceptanceacceptancesacceptationadopted statusadoptee statusadoptionsassimilatingassumingbill passage processborrowingcatalanizing
Verb(1 words)
adopting resolution
Strong matches (31)
Noun(11 words)
child adoptionembraceemergenceenactingenactmentespousalgermanisationimplementationinculcationinstitutionalizing standardsintegration
circumcisioncitizenship by naturalizationcitizenship paperscolonizationconquestconversioncopyingculture shockderivationderivingembraceembracementembracingencroachmentenslavementespousalimitationindentinfringementinvasion
Related words (53)
Noun(16 words)
iot shiftlegal adoptionlegislation passagemainstreamingordinance passageparental adoptionpenetrationsreceiptreceivingtech diffusiontractiontransplantstrend toward edtechuptakeuptakeswelcomes
mockingnationalizationnaturalizationnaturalized citizenshipnew birthnew lifeoccupationpaperspassagepasticciopastichepiratingplagiarismplagiaryplaying godpreemptionpreoccupationprepossessionrebirthredeemedness
Show 16 more words
redemptionreformationregenerationrequisitionsalvationsecond birthseizuresimulationspiritual purificationsubjugationtakeovertakingtaking overtrespasstrespassingusurpation
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acceptance, acceptance, acceptances, acceptation, acculturation.
- Sentence evidence is available for adoption, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "adoption".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "adoption"
Keep "adoption" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "adoption" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "adoption", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "adoption" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entriesappropriationapprovalapprovingblessingfamily law actionfamily statuskinship statuslegal proceedinglegal processorganizational changepolicy changeproceedingproceedings
More specific
8 entriesadult adopteecurriculum adoptioninternational adoptionminor adopteeopen adoptionprivate adoptionstandards adoptiontechnology adoption
Collocations
6 entriesadoption agencyadoption processadoption rateinternational adoptionopen adoptionprivate adoption
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriesTranslations
12 translations across 11 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- усвояване noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Catalan
1 entries- adopció noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Finnish
1 entries- adoptio noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Greek
1 entries- υιοθέτηση noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Indonesian
1 entries- adopsi noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Malay
2 entries- penerimaan noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
- pengambilan noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Portuguese
1 entries- adoção noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- uchd-mhacachd noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Spanish
1 entries- adopción noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Swedish
1 entries- anammande noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Turkish
1 entries- benimseme noun (choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so)
Sample sentences
22 total sentences available.
The puppy's single good eye begs me for adoption.
Source: tatoeba (754826)
Same-sex adoption rights are an important issue for the LGBT* community.
Source: tatoeba (946979)
The reduction of subsidies to the Cultural Heritage sector requires the adoption of a new paradigm.
Source: tatoeba (965631)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "adoption"?
Closest matches include acceptance, acceptance, acceptances, acceptation, acculturation.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "adoption"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.