Tom went for the jugular.
Source: tatoeba (9628236)
Jugular
/ˈd͡ʒʌɡ.jʊl.ə/
Synonyms for "jugular" (9 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: central, cervical, critical, decisive, jugular vein.
- Sentence evidence is available for jugular, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from 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 "jugular".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "jugular"
Keep "jugular" 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 "jugular" 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 "jugular", 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 "jugular" 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 entriesMore specific
7 entriesanterior jugular veinexternal jugularexternal jugular veininternal jugularinternal jugular veinjugular blowjugular strike
Collocations
6 entriesexternal jugularinternal jugularjugular foramenjugular notchjugular veinjugular venous pressure
Inflections
2 entriesmore jugularmost jugular
Derivations
2 entriesTranslations
17 translations across 15 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- отнасящ се до шията adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Catalan
1 entries- jugular adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 頸的 /颈的 adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Czech
3 entries- hrdelní adj (relating to the neck or throat)
- jugulární adj (relating to the neck or throat)
- krční adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Dutch
1 entries- jugulair adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Finnish
1 entries- kaula- adj (relating to the neck or throat)
French
1 entries- jugulaire adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Galician
1 entries- xugular adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Greek
1 entries- τραχηλικός adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Ido
1 entries- faucala adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Marathi
1 entries- गल- adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Polish
1 entries- szyjny adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Portuguese
1 entries- jugular adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Russian
1 entries- ше́йный adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Spanish
1 entries- yugular adj (relating to the neck or throat)
Sample sentences
5 total sentences available.
The jugular vein is located on the side of your neck.
Source: tatoeba (9666207)
Worn on the neck, the device records central blood pressure in the carotid artery, internal jugular vein and external jugular vein.
Source: tatoeba (12073595)
It was vicious; he went for the jugular.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "jugular"?
Closest matches include central, cervical, critical, decisive, jugular vein.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "jugular"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.