The doctor forbade me from taking part in the marathon.
Source: tatoeba (27975)
Marathon
/ˈmæɹəˌθɑn/
Synonyms for "marathon" (138 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
air racearica movementassertiveness trainingautomobile racebattlebehavior modificationbehavior therapybicycle racebioenergeticsbiofeedbackboat raceconfrontation therapyconjoint therapyconsciousness raisingcontest of speedcounselingcross-country racedashderbydirective therapy
Show 6 more words
Noun(2 words)
arduous undertakingendurance contest
Strong matches (41)
endurance raceerhard seminars trainingestextendedfamily trainingfeminist therapyfootracegestalt therapygroup psychotherapygroup relations traininggroup sensitivity traininggroup therapyheathumanistic therapyhurdle racehypnoanalysishypnosishypnotherapyhypnotisminterminable
Show 13 more words
languishinglaplastingle manslengthenedlingeringlonglong windedlong-continuinglong-drawnlong-drawn-outlong-pendinglong-winded
Noun(8 words)
endurance raceendurance testendurance-basedfootracelengthylong-distancelong-distance racelong-term project
Related words (69)
marathon racemarriage encountermatch racemind curemotorcycle racenarcoanalysisnarcohypnosisnarcosynthesisnarcotherapynew consciousnessnondirective therapyobstacle raceoccupational therapyoverlongpastoral counselingpentothal interviewplay therapypotato raceprimal therapyprolonged
Show 46 more words
prolonged narcosisprotractedpsychodramapsychological counselingpsychosurgerypsychosynthesispsychotherapeuticspsychotherapyraceradical therapyrational-emotive therapyreality therapyrecreational therapyregattaregression therapyrelayrelay racerelease therapyroad racerunsack racesatscream therapysensitivity trainingsensory awareness trainingsleep treatmentspeedway racesprintsprint racespun-outstock-car racestretched outstretched-outsupportive therapyt groupt-groupthree-legged racetorch racetrack racetraining grouptransactional analysistranscendental meditationtranspersonal therapyvocational therapywalkyacht race
Noun(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: air race, arduous undertaking, arica movement, assertiveness training, automobile race.
- Sentence evidence is available for marathon, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, 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 "marathon".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "marathon"
Keep "marathon" 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 "marathon" 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 "marathon", 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 "marathon" 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
13 entriesMore specific
10 entriescomprehensive examinationhalf marathonlong-term projectmarathon distancemarathon meetingmarathon racemarathon sessionmarathon trainingmulti-year studyultramarathon
Collocations
9 entrieshalf marathonmarathon distancemarathon eventmarathon racemarathon runnermarathon trainingmarathon-like effortultramarathonworld marathon majors
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
At the beginning of a marathon race, scores of runners start, but only a few finish and just one takes the cake.
Source: tatoeba (32360)
The marathon will be held, rain or shine.
Source: tatoeba (32361)
The marathon runners were out of breath.
Source: tatoeba (32362)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "marathon"?
Closest matches include air race, arduous undertaking, arica movement, assertiveness training, automobile race.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "marathon"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.