During my sabbatical, I composed a fugue and domesticated a robin.
Source: tatoeba (2826252)
Fugue
/ˈfyɡ/
Synonyms for "fugue" (35 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (7)
Strong matches (11)
Noun(4 words)
counterpoint techniquedissociative fuguefugue piecefugue state
Related words (17)
loss of memoryreverierondeaurondinorondorondolettoroundroundelaysleepwalkingsomnambulismstuportrancetrollword deafness
Noun(3 words)
polyphonic compositionpolyphonic techniquepsychogenic fugue
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: agnosia, amnesia, blackout, canon, catalepsy.
- Sentence evidence is available for fugue, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet.
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 "fugue".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "fugue"
Keep "fugue" 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 "fugue" 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 "fugue", 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 "fugue" 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
14 entriesclassicalclassical musiccontrapuntal techniquedissociative disordermental conditionmental disordermental statemusical compositionmusical formmusical workpsychiatric conditionpsychological conditionpsychological stateserious music
More specific
6 entriesbaroque fugueepisodic fuguefugue statefugue with strettokeyboard fuguethree-voice fugue
Collocations
6 entriesfugue cadencefugue counterpointfugue expositionfugue formfugue subjectfugue theme
Inflections
1 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Christopher Shih's performance of Brahms's "Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel" likely sealed his win in this international contest for amateurs.
Source: tatoeba (12409157)
Jacobsen's theory about the empty storehouse is still valid, for a myth never has one meaning only; a myth is a polyphonic fugue of many voices.
Source: wiktionary
And most of them women, and these only stayed in a fugue state for a relatively short time, like a couple of hours or a couple of days. As far as we know Malenov fugued for close to twenty years.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "fugue"?
Closest matches include agnosia, amnesia, blackout, canon, catalepsy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "fugue"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.