familiar synonyms

familiar

modif.

  1. Commonly known

    everyday, well-known, customary, frequent, homely, humble, usual, intimate, habitual, accustomed, common, ordinary, oft-encountered, informal, unceremonious, plain, simple, matter-of-fact, workaday, prosaic, commonplace, homespun, natural, native, unsophisticated, unvarnished, old hat*, garden variety*. *

    Antonyms unusual*, exotic*, strange*, new. *

  2. Friendly

    close, intimate, confidential, casual, cordial, easy, informal, free-and-easy, unceremonious, presumptuous, presuming, forward, bold, overfamiliar, chummy*; see also intimate 1. See syn. study at common.

familiar is applied to that which is known through constant association, and, with reference to persons, suggests informality, or even presumption, such as might prevail among members of a family remain on familiar terms; close is applied to persons or things very near to one in affection, attraction, interests, etc. close friends; intimate implies very close association, acquaintance, relationship, etc. invited her intimate friends or suggests something of a very personal or private nature intimate letters; confidential implies a relationship in which there is mutual trust and a sharing of private thoughts, problems, etc. a confidential friendship

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.