Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds that form high in the atmosphere as their water vapor freezes into ice crystals. Cirrus is one of the principal types of clouds.
Source: tatoeba (2700170)
Cirrus
/ˈsɪɹəs/
Synonyms for "cirrus" (111 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (23)
alto-cumulusalto-stratusanimal fiberanvil cloudartificial fiberbanner cloudbillowy cloudcap cloudcapillamentciliumcirro-cumuluscirro-fillumcirro-nebulacirro-stratuscirro-velumcirrus cloudcirrus hazecirrus stripecloudcloud band
Show 1 more word
cloud bank
Noun(2 words)
cirrhuscirrus cloud
Strong matches (33)
cloud driftcloud masscloud streetcloudcuckoolandcloudlandcloudlingcloudscapecobwebcocktailcoilcorkscrewcottony cloudcumulo-cirro-stratuscumulo-cirruscumulo-nimbuscumulo-stratuscumuluscumulus cloudcurlcurl cloud
Related words (55)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: alto-cumulus, alto-stratus, animal fiber, anvil cloud, artificial fiber.
- Sentence evidence is available for cirrus, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, opengloss, 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 "cirrus".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cirrus"
Keep "cirrus" 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 "cirrus" 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 "cirrus", 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 "cirrus" 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
11 entriesMore specific
8 entriescirrus cloudcirrus fibratuscirrus radiatuscirrus spissatuscirrus uncinusdelicate nuancethin threadwispy cloud
Collocations
11 entriescirrus cloudcirrus cloudscirrus fancirrus fibratuscirrus layercirrus radiatuscirrus sheetcirrus spissatuscirrus uncinuscirrus veilmare's tails
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Cirrus clouds moving from the southwest indicate falling temperature; moving from the northwest they indicate the probability of rising temperature.
Source: wiktionary
He looked at the sky and saw the white cumulus built like friendly piles of ice cream and high above where the thin feathers of the cirrus against the high September sky.
Source: wiktionary
The blue sky is glossy and fat with heat, a few thin cirri sheared to blown strands like hair at the rims.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cirrus"?
Closest matches include alto-cumulus, alto-stratus, animal fiber, anvil cloud, artificial fiber.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cirrus"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.