Mechanical power took the place of manual labor.
Source: tatoeba (20471)
Manual
/ˈmæn.j(u)əl/
Synonyms for "manual" (255 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (51)
abecedariumabecedaryalphabet bookbattledorebookbreviarycanoncasebookchoirchurch bookclaviaturecompanioncompendiumconsolecookbookcookery bookdirectionsechoeighty-eightenchiridion
Show 5 more words
Adjective(9 words)
Noun(16 words)
almanacbaedekerblue collar workerbook ofbowditchcell biology textbookcity planning guidelinesclassroom guidelinecompile informationcomputer instructionscontact basedcourse textdesign guidelinedistrict conduct proceduredocumentationeducational
Preposition(1 words)
by hand
Strong matches (77)
Noun(37 words)
freehandfreehand cutterfreehand cutting toolfreehand edge trimmingfreehand seam cuttingfreehand trimfreehand trimming techniquegovernment agency policyguidanceguideguide basedguide the researchguide verbguidebookguidebooksguidelineguideshandhand checkhand cut project
Show 17 more words
hand cuttinghand gestureshand metalworkinghand operatedhand powerhand poweredhand toolshand workhandbookhandbookshandcraftinghandheldhandmadehandpickinghands on task appealhoylehuman controlled production
Adjective(28 words)
freehand cutting skillsfreehand cutting techniquefreehand cuttingsfreehand designsfreehand measurementfreehand methodfreehand shapingfreehand techniquegentle hand wateringgestural languagegestural systemhand-controlledhand-drivenhand-irrigatinghand-operatedhandcrafted procedurehandcrafted protocolhands on abilityhands on capabilityhands on equipment
Show 8 more words
hands on methodhands on workhands-onhands-on activityhands-on demonstrationhuman operatorhuman-guidedhuman-powered
Verb(1 words)
guide a tour
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (127)
Noun(53 words)
in-person-entryinstructioninstruction bookinstruction guideinstruction manualinstruction sheetinstructionallab kit componentlaborerleast automatedlinear programming handbooklonghandmanual configurationmanual crank rotationmanual design unitmanual of armsmanual production handbookmanual volume controlmath bookno instruction
Show 33 more words
non electricalnonmechanical exampleowner's manualpaper pencil calculationplain-language guidepolicy analysis frameworkpot watering by handpre-tech eraprecomputer erapreindustrial eraprinted textbooksreference manualrepotting guidelinesrtfmrule bookrulebooksign language relatedsign-languagespanish políticastandardstandard transmissionstickstick shiftstudent guidestyle guidetask executiontechnical manualtutorialunautomated methodsuser controlleduser guidework instructionsworker
instructionsivorieskeyboardkeyslectionarylitanymachzormanual of instructionmissalnature bookordinalorgan manualpedalpedalspiano keyspontificalprayer bookprimerreaderritual
Adjective(28 words)
low-tech activitiesmanipulativemanual codingmanual processingmanual retrymanual-onlynon-digitalnonautomatic processingnoncomputerizednondigitalnonelectricnonelectric devicenonelectricalnonmechanicalnonmechanical explanationnontechnical aidsnontechnologicalphysical deletionpretech erapublic program guidelines
Show 8 more words
russian instruktsiyasigned communicationstep by step explanationtactile contactstactile qualityunpowered appliancewritten instructionwritten instructions
Verb(4 words)
Determiner(3 words)
more written historymost nonelectrical energynon digital system
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abecedarium, abecedary, afrikaans gids, almanac, alphabet book.
- Sentence evidence is available for manual, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wiktionary, 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 "manual".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "manual"
Keep "manual" 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 "manual" 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 "manual", 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 "manual" 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
16 entriesMore specific
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
Collocations
11 entriescar manualinstruction manuallab manualmanual controlmanual dexteritymanual labormanual overridemanual pagemanual transmissionowner's manualuser manual
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
3 entriesTranslations
21 translations across 14 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- ръчка noun (vehicle with manual transmission)
- ръчна трансмисия noun (manual transmission)
Czech
1 entries- manuál noun (manual transmission)
Dutch
1 entries- handbak noun (manual transmission)
Estonian
2 entries- käsikäigukast noun (manual transmission)
- manuaalkäigukast noun (manual transmission)
Finnish
4 entries- käsivaihteinen noun (vehicle with manual transmission)
- käsivaihteisto noun (manual transmission)
- manuaalinen vaihteisto noun (manual transmission)
- manuaalivaihteisto noun (manual transmission)
Galician
1 entries- manual noun (manual transmission)
German
2 entries- Schaltgetriebe noun (manual transmission)
- Schaltwagen noun (vehicle with manual transmission)
Greek
1 entries- χειροκίνητος noun (manual transmission)
Japanese
1 entries- マニュアル noun (manual transmission)
Macedonian
1 entries- рачен менувач noun (manual transmission)
Romanian
1 entries- cutie de viteze noun (manual transmission)
Russian
2 entries- ручная коробка передач noun (manual transmission)
- ручная трансмиссия noun (manual transmission)
Spanish
1 entries- manual noun (manual transmission)
Swedish
1 entries- växelspak noun (manual transmission)
Sample sentences
20 total sentences available.
Can you operate a manual transmission?
Source: tatoeba (32506)
I am seeking a person who can write a personal computer manual.
Source: tatoeba (35220)
Which was because I didn't follow the directions in the manual or learn their lessons.
Source: tatoeba (38976)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "manual"?
Closest matches include abecedarium, abecedary, afrikaans gids, almanac, alphabet book.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "manual"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.