The Traveling Salesman Problem is a pertinent koan among computer scientists.
Source: tatoeba (6907551)
Koan
/ˈkoʊ.ɑn/
Synonyms for "koan" (4 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: enigma, paradox, puzzle, riddle.
- Sentence evidence is available for koan, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss.
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 "koan".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "koan"
Keep "koan" 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 "koan" 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 "koan", 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 "koan" 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
6 entriesMore specific
6 entriesdoctrinal koanhistorical koanliterary koanmu koanone hand koanphilosophical koan
Collocations
6 entriesZen koankoan collectionkoan practicekoan studykoan traditionmeditation koan
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
7 translations across 6 languages.
Finnish
2 entries- aporia noun (riddle without solution)
- kōan noun (riddle without solution)
French
1 entries- aporie noun (riddle without solution)
Hungarian
1 entries- koan noun (riddle without solution)
Italian
1 entries- aporia noun (riddle without solution)
Polish
1 entries- koan noun (riddle without solution)
Spanish
1 entries- aporía noun (riddle without solution)
Sample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Zen, with its absurdist koan, laughs at life much the way the Marx brothers did. What exactly can you make of a philosophical system whose teacher answers the question, "How do you see things so clearly?" with the seeming one-liner, "I close my eyes"?
Source: wiktionary
Gibberish. Or else a koan that Achtfaden isn’t equipped to master, a transcendent puzzle that could lead him to some moment of light.
Source: wiktionary
As always the koan “Why, Why am I here, why here” begins in her head, but she beats it back like a housewife with a broom.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "koan"?
Closest matches include enigma, paradox, puzzle, riddle.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "koan"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.