Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

exception

[ik-sep-shuhn] / ɪkˈsɛp ʃən /
NOUN
leaving out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
omission
STRONG
barring debarment exclusion expulsion rejection repudiation reservation
WEAK
disallowment excepting excusing noninclusion passing over
Antonyms
STRONG
acceptance allowance ratification
WEAK
admittal admittance inclusion normality regularity usualness
NOUN
special case; irregularity
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anomaly exemption oddity privilege
STRONG
allowance departure deviation difference dispensation eccentricity freak inconsistency nonconformity peculiarity quirk
WEAK
anomalism perquisitor privileged person
Antonyms
STRONGEST
normality regularity standard usualness
STRONG
commonality conformity sameness similarity uniformity
WEAK
admittal admittance inclusion

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.

But the rules make an exception for investors holding stakes in private-asset funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Good Friday derbies between St Helens and Wigan rarely disappoint and the final stages of this encounter were no exception.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Since winning the World Cup in 2006, the Azzurri have largely disappointed in international tournaments - with the exception of their surprise victory at the Euros in 2021 against England at Wembley.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Nasdaq calls its new float-weighting exception a conservative balance.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Such examples of path dependency are the rule and not the exception.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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