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Definitions

apostrophe

[uh-pos-truh-fee] / əˈpɒs trə fi /
NOUN
digression
Synonyms
STRONGEST
detour footnote
STRONG
aside deflection departure difference divagation divergence diversion drifting episode excursion excursus incident note parenthesis variation wandering
WEAK
discursion obiter dictum rambling
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement sameness similarity
WEAK
directness straightness
NOUN
figure of speech
Synonyms
WEAK
adumbration allegory alliteration allusion analogue analogy anaphora anticlimax antistrophe antithesis aposiopesis asyndeton bathos comparison conceit device echoism ellipsis euphemism euphuism exaggeration expression flourish flower hyperbole image imagery irony litotes malapropism manner of speaking metaphor metonymy onomatopoeia ornament oxymoron parable paradox parallel personification proteron rhetoric sarcasm satire simile stylistic device synecdoche trope tropology turn of phrase understatement way of speaking
NOUN
irrelevancy
Synonyms
STRONG
aside deflection departure detour deviation difference divagation divergence divergency diversion drifting episode excursion excursus footnote incident note parenthesis tangent variation wandering
WEAK
discursion obiter dictum rambling
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement conformity sameness similarity uniformity
NOUN
parenthesis
Synonyms
STRONG
aside deflection departure detour deviation difference divagation divergence divergency diversion drifting episode excursion excursus footnote incident irrelevancy note tangent variation wandering
WEAK
discursion obiter dictum rambling
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement conformity sameness similarity uniformity
NOUN
stream of consciousness
Synonyms
WEAK
aside association of ideas chain of thought free association inner monologue interior monologue mind mapping train of thought word painting

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even then, the apostrophe in the logo was a pepper.

From Slate • Aug. 11, 2025

He recently added an apostrophe to his first name, now stylized as “Tre’.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2025

Postie Sam was just finishing her round when we caught up with her near a new St Mary's Walk sign that had been erected in the town with no apostrophe.

From BBC • May 5, 2024

“And if you really put it together, just put an apostrophe between I, M and Possible, it’s I’m possible,” he added.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024

It is no fault of the apostrophe that some of our words need so much help identifying themselves.

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.