Having never married, he experienced fatherhood vicariously through his nieces and nephews.
Source: tatoeba (652573)
Vicariously
/vaɪ̯ˈkɜɹ.i.əs.li/
Synonyms for "vicariously" (3 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (1)
Adverb(1 words)
by proxy
Strong matches (1)
Adverb(1 words)
Related words (1)
Adverb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: by proxy, indirectly, secondhand.
- Sentence evidence is available for vicariously, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss.
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 "vicariously".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "vicariously"
Keep "vicariously" 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 "vicariously" 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 "vicariously", 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 "vicariously" 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
2 entriesadverbadverb of manner
More specific
2 entriesindirect observationobservational learning
Collocations
6 entriesindirect experienceindirect observationobservational learningvicarious experiencevicarious learningvicarious liability
Inflections
2 entriesmore vicariouslymost vicariously
Derivations
2 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
It is the 21st of January of 2017. I have been travelling vicariously via Street View on my iMaps+ app on my Apple iPad mini. I have seen much of this world. I like looking at Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Indonesia, Hawaii, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Romania, and much of Latin America. I like this virtual travel, as it is not so hectic and tiresome as real physical travel, of which I have done a lot years ago.
Source: tatoeba (10723760)
It is now the 11th of July of 2014. It is my first time to vicariously travel Greece via Google Maps. It is really more convenient than my physical travel of Greece back in 2002. Recently, also some cities in Peru and Colombia have become open for fascinating virtual excursions on Google Maps. I use my iPad mini's iMaps+ app.
Source: tatoeba (10725062)
Mr. Miller argues convincingly that a majority of Americans shared the romantic nationalism of such expansionists as Theodore Roosevelt and Sen. Albert Beveridge and participated vicariously in their dreams of martial glory and expanding markets.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "vicariously"?
Closest matches include by proxy, indirectly, secondhand.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "vicariously"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.