The javelin thrower's record was 12 metres.
Source: tatoeba (2494359)
Javelin
/ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/
Synonyms for "javelin" (9 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: cast, fling, hurl, jaculus, lance.
- Sentence evidence is available for javelin, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
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 "javelin".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "javelin"
Keep "javelin" 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 "javelin" 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 "javelin", 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 "javelin" 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
8 entriesMore specific
8 entriesGreek javelinOlympic javelinRoman javelinattack with spearlong throwoverhand throwspear throwworld championship javelin
Collocations
9 entriesOlympic javelinathletic throwjavelin competitionjavelin designjavelin gripjavelin techniquejavelin throwjavelin throwertrack and field javelin
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
46 translations across 41 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- ἀκόντιον noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Bulgarian
1 entries- копие noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Catalan
1 entries- javelina noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 標槍 /标枪 noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Czech
1 entries- oštěp noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Danish
1 entries- spyd noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Dutch
1 entries- speer noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Esperanto
1 entries- ĵetlanco noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Finnish
1 entries- keihäs noun (spear used in athletic competition)
French
1 entries- javelot noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Galician
1 entries- xavelina noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Georgian
2 entries- სატყორცნი შუბი noun (spear used in athletic competition)
- ხელშუბი noun (spear used in athletic competition)
German
1 entries- Speer noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Greek
1 entries- ακόντιο noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Hebrew
1 entries- כידון noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Hungarian
1 entries- gerely noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Ido
1 entries- javelino noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Indonesian
1 entries- lembing noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Japanese
2 entries- ジャベリン noun (spear used in athletic competition)
- 槍 noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Latvian
1 entries- šķēps noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Lithuanian
2 entries- akstis noun (spear used in athletic competition)
- ietis noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Macedonian
1 entries- копје noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Malayalam
1 entries- ജാവലിൻ noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- spyd noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Norwegian Nynorsk
2 entries- spjut noun (spear used in athletic competition)
- spyd noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- جرید noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Persian
1 entries- نیزه noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Plautdietsch
1 entries- Spiess noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Polish
1 entries- oszczep noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Portuguese
1 entries- dardo noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Romanian
1 entries- suliță noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Russian
1 entries- копьё noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Slovak
1 entries- oštep noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Slovene
1 entries- kopje noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Spanish
1 entries- jabalina noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Swedish
1 entries- spjut noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Tagalog
2 entries- balibabat noun (spear used in athletic competition)
- habalina noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Turkish
1 entries- cirit noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Ukrainian
1 entries- спис noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Urdu
1 entries- نیزَہ noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Welsh
1 entries- gwaywffon noun (spear used in athletic competition)
Sample sentences
24 total sentences available.
He would give a javelin, so that he would receive a coat.
Source: tatoeba (7356006)
Yanni threw the javelin.
Source: tatoeba (9956042)
The coin's face depicts a javelin thrower.
Source: tatoeba (12005492)
Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "javelin"?
Closest matches include cast, fling, hurl, jaculus, lance.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "javelin"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.