Sorry to break up your powwow.
Source: tatoeba (6710479)
Powwow
/ˈpaʊ(ˌ)waʊ/
Synonyms for "powwow" (92 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (19)
adviseadvise withaudiencebargainbargainingbargaining sessioncall incolloguecompare notesconclaveconfabconfabulateconfabulationconferconfer withconference
Strong matches (27)
Noun(7 words)
confrontationcongressconstitutional conventionconsultconsult withconsultationconventioncouncilcouncil firecouncil of warcounselcounty conventiondeliberatediscussdiscuss withdiscussionexchange observationsexchange of viewsexchange viewseyeball-to-eyeball encounter
Related words (46)
have conversationshigh-level talkhold conferencehuddleinterchange of viewsinterviewmeetingnational conventionnegotiatenegotiationnegotiationsnews conferencenominating conventionpalaverparleypolitical conventionpourparlerpreliminary conventionpress conferenceput heads together
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: advise, advise with, attend, audience, bargain.
- Sentence evidence is available for powwow, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, 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 "powwow".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "powwow"
Keep "powwow" 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 "powwow" 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 "powwow", 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 "powwow" 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
15 entriesMore specific
11 entriesbriefingceremonial gatheringcommunity gatheringcultural eventdance contestdrum circledrum contestplanning meetingplanning sessionstrategy meetingstrategy session
Collocations
11 entriesNative American powwowannual powwowexecutive powwowintertribal powwowplanning powwowpost powwow debriefpowwow drumspowwow etiquettepowwow with colleaguesstakeholder powwowteam powwow
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
3 translations across 3 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- индиански знахар noun (a Native American council or meeting)
Navajo
1 entries- atsʼos bee alzhishí noun (a Native American council or meeting)
Ojibwe
1 entries- niimi'idiwin noun (a Native American council or meeting)
Sample sentences
5 total sentences available.
While the powwow was going on the big woman came back again. She was consider'ble rumpled and scratched up, but there was fire in her eye.
Source: wiktionary
On the way out, Octavio handed me a flyer for the powwow that listed the prize money in each dance category.
Source: wiktionary
[The] Indians saw everything that happened and powwowed all night, needing more than anything else the presence of Tecumseh. The most aggressive element was the Winnebagos, who insisted on attacking.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "powwow"?
Closest matches include advise, advise with, attend, audience, bargain.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "powwow"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.