From every schooner, dories were being dropped into the shining, clear water. The sound of voices and the splashes of oars carried across the sea.
Source: wiktionary
Dory
/ˈdɔːɹi/
Synonyms for "dory" (8 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: rowboat, dinghy, jack salmon, john dory, small boat.
- Sentence evidence is available for dory, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss.
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 "dory".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dory"
Keep "dory" 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 "dory" 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 "dory", 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 "dory" 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
10 entriesacanthopterygianboatfishmarine animalpike perchpike-perchsmall boatsmall vesselspiny-finned fishwatercraft
Collocations
6 entriesdory boatdory filletdory fishfisherman doryjohn doryjohn dory fillet
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
He and Gerald usually challenged the rollers in a sponson canoe when Gerald was there for the weekend; or, when Lansing came down, the two took long swims seaward or cruised about in Gerald's dory, clad in their swimming-suits; and Selwyn's youth became renewed in a manner almost ridiculous […]
Source: wiktionary
The dory, and the fisherman who rowed it, are part of the maritime heritage that changed America from a group of shore-bound colonies to a nation with ships that ranged the waters of the world.
Source: wiktionary
It is almost impossible for anyone who loves boats not to rejoice at the sight of a St. Pierre dory. Gaily painted, with lots of sheer and a defiantly jaunty look to them, the dories have been pleasing the eyes of their beholders for nearly a century.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dory"?
Closest matches include rowboat, dinghy, jack salmon, john dory, small boat.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dory"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.