Then there is a problem...
Source: tatoeba (1327)
Then
/ðen/
Synonyms for "then" (160 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (32)
aboveaccordinglyadditionallyaforetimeafterafter allafter thatafterwardsagainall includedalsoaltogetheramong other thingsancientand alland alsoand soanonas wellat another time
Show 5 more words
at that momentat that timeat the same timeau restebecause of that
Adverb(2 words)
and thenas a result
Strong matches (48)
because of thisbeforebefore nowbeforetimebesidebesidesbeyondconsequentlycontemporaneouslyearlierearlyelseen pluserenowerewhileergoersterstwhileex post factoextra
Show 21 more words
fartherfor lagniappefor thatfor that causefor that reasonfor this causefor this reasonfor which reasonforeformerformerlyfurtherfurthermorehencehereatheretoforehistoricallyhithertoimmemorialinin addition
Adverb(3 words)
Adverb(4 words)
Related words (80)
in that casein the aftermathin the pastin the sequelin times pastinter aliainto the bargainitemlatelaterlikewisemoremoreovernextoldoldenon that accounton that groundon that occasionon the side
Show 45 more words
on this accounton top ofonceonetimeonly yesterdayoverpastplusprehistoricprehistoricallypreviouspreviouslyprimevalprimitivepriorpriorlypropter hocquondamrecentrecentlysimilarlysimultaneouslysincesometimesubsequentlythencethereafterthereatthereforthereforethereonthereupontherewiththusthuslythuswiseto boottoowhenwhencewhereforewherefromwhilomyesterdayyet
Adverb(9 words)
Noun(1 words)
quarterly pattern
Adverb(4 words)
Conjunction(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: so, above, accordingly, additionally, aforetime.
- Sentence evidence is available for then, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, wiktionary, 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 "then".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "then"
Keep "then" 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 "then" 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 "then", 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 "then" 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
7 entriesMore specific
19 entriesafterwardconditional conjunctionconsequentlygohypothetical conjunctionnextnowsequence markersosubordinatorsubsequentlytemporal conjunctionthen againthen finallythen subsequentlythereafter
Showing 16 of 19 words.
Collocations
13 entriesback thennow thenright thenso thenthen afterthen afterwardthen againthen and therethen clausethen finallythen in turnthen laterthen there
similar
1 entriesSample sentences
37 total sentences available.
After that, I left, but then I realized that I forgot my backpack at their house.
Source: tatoeba (1396)
If you didn't know me that way then you simply didn't know me.
Source: tatoeba (1406)
I will play Sudoku then instead of continuing to bother you.
Source: tatoeba (1430)
Showing 4 of 37 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "then"?
Closest matches include so, above, accordingly, additionally, aforetime.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "then"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.