The politician pushed for reform by denouncing the corruption of the government officials.
Source: tatoeba (2020)
Reform
/ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/
Synonyms for "reform" (426 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (86)
about faceabout-faceaccommodateaccommodationacculturateadaptadaptationadjustadjustmentadvancealteralterationameliorateameliorationamendamendmentapologizeapostasybeg pardonbetter
Show 27 more words
bettermentbleachboostbowdlerizebreakbreak upbring forwardchangechange of allegiancechange of heartchange of mindchangeablenesscivilizecleanclean outclean upcleanseclear outconstructive changecontinuityconversionconvertcorrectcorrectiondefectiondeformdegeneration
Noun(23 words)
amelioratingamendamendmentcampaigncatacalacatalan canviarchange in governmentchange of statechange radicallychange shapechangementcharacter changechasteningcivilizercivilizing policycommonholdingcommunity traditions updatecriminal-justice systemscritiquingcultural system changes
Show 3 more words
Adjective(6 words)
changed policycivil progress policycivilized worldcomplete overhaulconstitutional change procedurecultural reform
Verb(10 words)
chastenchastenedchastestcivilisedcivilize a nationcivilize conductcivilize institutionscleanseddecolonizedecriminalized
Strong matches (127)
degenerative changedelousedenaturedepuratedetergedeteriorationdeviationdifferencediscontinuitydissentdivergencediversificationdiversifydiversiondiversitydo penancedry cleandry-cleandustdust off
Show 48 more words
edifyeducateelevateemendemendationenhanceenlightenenrichexpurgateextremismfabianismfattenfavorfitfittingfixflip flopflip-flopforwardfosterfreshengive backgive salvationgo straightgradual changegradualismimproveimprove uponimprovementlardliftlustratemake an improvementmelioratemeliorationmeliorismmendmitigatemitigationmodificationmodifymodulatemodulationmutatenew birthnew-modelnurtureoverthrow
Verb(12 words)
Noun(34 words)
disestablishingdriveeducateeducation changeeducation change effortelection laws revisionelectoral reformengineered change outcomegradual cultural system changeimproveimprovementindigenizationinitiativeinnovatinginnovationsinquiry based learning revolutionliberalizationsmendingmetamorphosesmodernization plan
Show 14 more words
modernizingmoral improvementmore signal amendment intentmost radical shiftmovementnature changesorganization redesignoverhauloverhaulingoverhaulsoverturning a rulingparadigm shiftparadigm shift in educationparadigm shifts
Adjective(12 words)
dutch transformatieeducational modernizationglorious revolution historygovernmental reformgreater transformationhistoric societal changeimmediate overhaulindustrial change processlocal reformmajor paradigm shiftingmajor political changemajor shift
Determiner(1 words)
more political process reform
Related words (213)
Noun(48 words)
paradigmspeaceful reformploughsharespolicy overhaulpolitical transition processpublic management reformrecastingreclaimingredesignsreform movementreform policyreformingreforming peacefullyrehabilitatereinventingremodelsreorganization processreorganizationsreorganizingreorgs
Show 28 more words
restructureretrainreviserevisionrevitalizationrevolutionarily changedrevolutionary actsrevolutionizationrevolutionize classroom practicesrevolutionize curriculum designrevolutionize student engagementrevolutionize teachingrevolutionizingritual modernizationromanian transformascientific upheavalself improvementshakeupssmall changesocial upheavalsolute changespanish transformaciónstate-government reformingstep forwardsweepingsystem changesystem upgradewesternizing
place inplead guiltyprogressivismpromotepurgepurifyput backqualificationqualifyradical changeradical reformradicalismraisere createre creationre formre-createre-creationre-formreactivate
Show 116 more words
realignrealignmentrebirthrebuildreclaimreclamationreconstitutereconstructreconvertrecoverrecoveryrecrudescencerecruitrectificationrectifyredeemredemptionredesignredoreenactreestablishrefashionrefillrefinerefine uponrefitreformationreformismregenerateregenerationrehabilitaterehabilitationreinstallreinstatereinstitutereintegratereinvestremakeremakingremedyremodelrenascencerenewrenewalrenovaterenovationreorganizationreorganizerepairrepentreplacereplenishreshapereshapingrestorerestore self-respectrestructurerestructuringreturnrevampreversalrevestreviserevisionismrevivalreviverevivificationrevolutionrevolutionizering the changessavescavengeset straightshiftshift the sceneshuffle the cardssocializesprucesteam-cleanstraightenstraighten outsubvertsudden changesweep outsweetenswitchthink better oftidytotal changetransfiguretransformtransformationtransitionturnturn over a new leafturn the scaleturn the tablesturn the tideturn upside downturnaboutupgradeupheavalupliftutopianismvariationvarietyvaryviolent changewhitenwipewipe offwipe outwipe upwork a changeworsenworsening
Adjective(7 words)
political process reformsrevolutionary actsobersocial transformationstate government reformtransformed stateviolent overthrow
Verb(22 words)
reclaimreconstitutedreconstitutesrectifyregeneraterehabbedrehabilitatedrehabilitatingremaderemoldremouldrestructuredrevolutionize educationrevolutionizedrevolutionizessee the lightstraighten outstraightenedtransmutedundergoing changes
Show 2 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: about face, about-face, accommodate, accommodation, acculturate.
- Sentence evidence is available for reform, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, 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 "reform".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "reform"
Keep "reform" 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 "reform" 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 "reform", 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 "reform" 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
24 entriesShowing 16 of 24 words.
More specific
15 entriesamendcivil service reformeducateeducation reformhabit changehealth care reformmoral improvementoverhaulprison reformrehabilitaterestructureretrainreviseself improvementtax reform
Collocations
10 entriesreform agendareform billreform effortreform lawsreform movementreform packagereform planreform policyreform programreform proposal
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
8 entriessimilar
5 entriesSample sentences
23 total sentences available.
It should be clear that the curriculum reform is mandatory in order to enhance interdisciplinary research.
Source: tatoeba (21470)
In the main, I am in favor of political reform if meaningful changes are made.
Source: tatoeba (28196)
We should reform this law.
Source: tatoeba (57139)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "reform"?
Closest matches include about face, about-face, accommodate, accommodation, acculturate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "reform"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.