Except that here, it's not so simple.
Source: tatoeba (1424)
Except
/ɪkˈsɛpt/
Synonyms for "except" (174 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
Strong matches (52)
Related words (87)
isolatekickknock offleaveleave outleaving outlesslet alonelet golet offlopminusmutilatenipnot countingobjectoffomitomittingother than
Show 58 more words
outside ofparepass bypass overpass uppeelpick outprecludingprotestprunepush asiderebuffrecantrefuserefuse to considerrejectreleaseremiseremitremonstraterenouncerepelrepudiaterepulseroot outrule outsavesave and exceptsave the necessitysavingscoutset apartset asideshaveshearshove awaysparespurnstamp outstrike offstripstrip offsuspendtake offtake outthanthrow awaythrow outtruncateturn awayturn outunlessunless thatwaivewere it notwipe outwithoutyet
Verb(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abjure, abscind, absolve, amputate, annihilate.
- Sentence evidence is available for except, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, 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 "except".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "except"
Keep "except" 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 "except" 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 "except", 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 "except" 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 entriesconjunctiondo away witheliminateexceptionexclusionextinguishfunction wordget rid ofobjectprepositionsubordinating conjunction
More specific
11 entriescase exclusiondata exclusionexcept asexcept thatexcept whenexemptionparticipant exclusionreservationsave forsave thatspecial case
Collocations
12 entriescase exclusiondata exclusionexcept asexcept forexcept ifexcept thatexcept whenexemption clauseoutlier exclusionparticipant exclusionsave forwith the exception of
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
32 total sentences available.
Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried.
Source: tatoeba (1550)
Mathematicians are poets, except that they have to prove what their fantasy creates.
Source: tatoeba (1793)
There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.
Source: tatoeba (1856)
Showing 4 of 32 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "except"?
Closest matches include abjure, abscind, absolve, amputate, annihilate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "except"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.