Quite a few British people were really cut up about the results of the plebiscite, but those who had not bothered to vote had only themselves to blame.
Source: tatoeba (5398421)
Plebiscite
/ˈplɛbɪsaɪt/
Synonyms for "plebiscite" (70 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (14)
australian ballotayeballotcanvasscanvassingcasting voteconstitutional referendumcounting headscumulative votingdeciding votedirect initiativedivisionelectionenfranchisement
Strong matches (21)
facultative referendumfagot votefranchisegraveyard votehand votehare systemindirect initiativeinitiativelist systemmandatemandatory referendumnaynonontransferable voteplebiscitumplumperplural votepollpolling
Noun(2 words)
pollpopular vote
Related words (35)
preferential votingproportional representationproxyrecallrecord votereferendumrepresentationright to voterising votesaysecret ballotshow of handssingle votesnap votestatutory referendumstraw votesuffragetransferable voteviva vocevoice
Noun(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: australian ballot, aye, ballot, canvass, canvassing.
- Sentence evidence is available for plebiscite, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, 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 "plebiscite".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "plebiscite"
Keep "plebiscite" 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 "plebiscite" 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 "plebiscite", 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 "plebiscite" 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
3 entriesMore specific
3 entriesconstitutional plebiscitenational plebisciteterritorial plebiscite
Collocations
8 entriesconstitutional plebiscitenational plebisciteplebiscite campaignplebiscite dateplebiscite questionplebiscite resultsplebiscite turnoutterritorial plebiscite
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Remember to vote in the upcoming plebiscite.
Source: tatoeba (13233151)
A plebiscite or referendum is a direct popular vote on an issue.
Source: tatoeba (13233156)
A political result, we may also say aim, of the frumentarian plebiscite of Gaius was to disattach the city populace from its conservative moorings and to enlist it in the service of reform.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "plebiscite"?
Closest matches include australian ballot, aye, ballot, canvass, canvassing.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "plebiscite"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.