They didn't have real coffee, so they drank ersatz.
Source: tatoeba (2867186)
Ersatz
/ˈɛəzæts/
Synonyms for "ersatz" (166 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (34)
Strong matches (49)
Related words (83)
pinch hitterpinchbeckplagiarizedplasticpretendedprovisionalproxypseudoput onput-onquasiqueerreliefreplacementrepresentativeresemblingreservereservesringersecond string
Show 54 more words
secondaryself-styledshamshoddysignsimilarsimulacrumsimulatedsmacking ofso calledso-calledsoi-disantsomething likesparesparesspuriousstand instand-instopgapsubsubstituentsubstitutesubstitutionsuccedaneumsuggestive ofsupersedersupplantersupposititioussurrogatesymbolsynecdochesynthetictemporarytentativethird stringtintinseltitivatedtokentwistedunauthenticunderstudyungenuineuniform withunnaturalunrealutilityutility playervicarvicariousvice presidentvice-presidentvice-regentwarped
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: affected, agent, alike, alternate, alternative.
- Sentence evidence is available for ersatz, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, 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 "ersatz".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ersatz"
Keep "ersatz" 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 "ersatz" 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 "ersatz", 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 "ersatz" 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
5 entriesMore specific
14 entriesartificial fiberbogus itemcounterfeitersatz beverageersatz breadersatz coffeeersatz leatherersatz sugarersatz winefake dataimitation leatherpseudo culturesimulated traditionsynthetic protein
Collocations
8 entriesersatz breadersatz coffeeersatz cultureersatz goodsersatz leatherersatz productersatz sugarersatz wine
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Even the ersatz of the flies imposed their menu on us, the content of which I will not have to bellow.
Source: tatoeba (11085429)
"Macau-Macau!" exclaimed Michael, the Guǎngzhōu Man, when we were thinking about Tagalog and the Philippines, as we were sitting at Lulu Island's Tim Hortons café, after 10:00, June 15, 2025. "Malaki?" I wondered if he was referring to the word for "big." I asserted: "'Lalaki' is for a man or boy, a male. 'Babae' is for a woman or girl, a female." It was déjà vu: I remembered that conversation with him from years ago. I was explaining that Tagalog words for gender alluded to size or stature. To Michael, the Philippines seems like a big Macau, the Portuguese ex-colony in the PRC, except that the Philippines is ex-Spanish. After we talked more about other subjects, Michael had to leave to pick up his kids at Sunday ESL class at posh Aberdeen Centre. At the café, Alex, my Filipino friend, reminded me about Mass times: Well before 15:00, I ventured walking in the blue-sky sunshine to the "Clam Temple," the Roman Catholic church on St. Albans Road. In the great worship hall, there were just a Filipina nun in her nun outfit and two women church co-workers at the front. I was sitting way back. Feeling the void was all that was necessary, except that one of the ladies started using a handheld vacuum cleaner to clean underneath the votive candle stands, where some candles were lit. I exited to the nice sunshine, as I sat on a bench. I'm Buddhoanimist as many Asians. The "Clam Temple" is a good ersatz for me. It was likely my 44th visit this year for me there. Ah, the void...
Source: tatoeba (13282242)
Back then, we could only get ersatz coffee.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ersatz"?
Closest matches include affected, agent, alike, alternate, alternative.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ersatz"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.