This holiday was called Saturnalia among the Romans and was marked by great merriment and licence which extended even to the slaves.
Source: tatoeba (5681787)
Saturnalia
/ˌsætəˈneɪli.ə/
Synonyms for "saturnalia" (34 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (7)
Strong matches (10)
Noun(6 words)
Related words (17)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bacchanal, bacchanalia, banquet, blowout, carnival.
- Sentence evidence is available for saturnalia, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse.
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 "saturnalia".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "saturnalia"
Keep "saturnalia" 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 "saturnalia" 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 "saturnalia", 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 "saturnalia" 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
8 entriesMore specific
6 entriesgift exchange ritualparty spreepublic feastroman festivalsocial inversion ritualweekend binge
Collocations
6 entriesgift givingmerrymaking ritualrevelry periodrole reversalroman festivalsaturnalia festival
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
18 total sentences available.
One festival was called Saturnalia and honored Saturn, another was called Bacchanalia and honored Bacchus.
Source: tatoeba (11257508)
It's true that Christmas adopts aspects of Saturnalia, which you are free to celebrate if you don't want to be called a cultural Christian, although your success may be limited.
Source: tatoeba (11593025)
Saturn was an ancient Italian deity. It was attempted to identify him with the Grecian god Cronos, and fabled that after his dethronement by Jupiter he fled to Italy, where he reigned during what was called the Golden Age. In memory of his beneficent dominion, the feast of Saturnalia was held every year in the winter season.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "saturnalia"?
Closest matches include bacchanal, bacchanalia, banquet, blowout, carnival.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "saturnalia"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.