All stood motionless; but when the yell was again repeated, Colonel Ashton snatched a torch from the sconce, and demanding the key of the bridal-chamber from Henry, to whom, as bride's-man, it had been entrusted.
Source: tatoeba (7760860)
Sconce
/skɒns/
Synonyms for "sconce" (121 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (25)
abatisadvanced workamercementbalistrariabankbanquettebarbed-wire entanglementbarbicanbarricadebarrierbartizanbastionbattlementbeanbelfrybracketbrainbreastworkbrowbulwark
Show 4 more words
Noun(1 words)
Strong matches (36)
Related words (60)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abatis, advanced work, amercement, applique, balistraria.
- Sentence evidence is available for sconce, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, 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 "sconce".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sconce"
Keep "sconce" 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 "sconce" 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 "sconce", 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 "sconce" 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
17 entriesattachmentbracketdefense workearthworkfixturefortfortificationfortresslightlight sourcelighting fixturemountingpositioningreposesettlingshelter
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
8 entriesCollocations
11 entriesapplique sconcecandle sconcedecorative sconceelectric sconcelamp installationlighting fixturemounting bracketornamental sconcesconce fixturewall mountingwall sconce
Inflections
3 entriesTranslations
27 translations across 20 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- аплик noun (light fixture on a wall)
Catalan
1 entries- aplic noun (light fixture on a wall)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 灯台 noun (light fixture on a wall)
- 烛台 noun (light fixture on a wall)
Czech
1 entries- nástěnný svícen noun (light fixture on a wall)
Dutch
2 entries- kandelaar noun (light fixture on a wall)
- schemerlamp noun (light fixture on a wall)
Finnish
1 entries- lampetti noun (light fixture on a wall)
French
2 entries- applique noun (light fixture on a wall)
- applique murale noun (light fixture on a wall)
German
3 entries- Wandlampe noun (light fixture on a wall)
- Wandleuchte noun (light fixture on a wall)
- Wandleuchter noun (light fixture on a wall)
Greek
1 entries- απλίκα noun (light fixture on a wall)
Hungarian
1 entries- fali lámpa noun (light fixture on a wall)
Irish
1 entries- sconsa noun (light fixture on a wall)
Italian
2 entries- candelabro noun (light fixture on a wall)
- candeliere da parete noun (light fixture on a wall)
Polish
1 entries- kinkiet noun (light fixture on a wall)
Portuguese
1 entries- arandela noun (light fixture on a wall)
Russian
1 entries- бра noun (light fixture on a wall)
Spanish
1 entries- aplique noun (light fixture on a wall)
Swedish
2 entries- applick noun (light fixture on a wall)
- lampett noun (light fixture on a wall)
Turkish
1 entries- aplik noun (light fixture on a wall)
Ukrainian
1 entries- бра noun (light fixture on a wall)
Welsh
1 entries- goleuddal noun (light fixture on a wall)
Sample sentences
17 total sentences available.
[…]tapers put into lanterns or sconces of several-coloured, oiled paper, that the wind might not annoy them.
Source: wiktionary
Golden sconces hang not on the walls.
Source: wiktionary
Taking the candle […] she stood with the little flat brass sconce in her hand.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sconce"?
Closest matches include abatis, advanced work, amercement, applique, balistraria.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sconce"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.