valid

adjective

ˈva-ləd How to pronounce valid (audio)
Definition of validnext
1
as in logical
according to the rules of logic your argument isn't valid because you're taking what should be the conclusion and using it as a premise

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information only further investigation will show whether your theory is valid

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word valid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of valid are cogent, convincing, sound, and telling. While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent
a valid marriage

When might cogent be a better fit than valid?

While in some cases nearly identical to valid, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

When is convincing a more appropriate choice than valid?

Although the words convincing and valid have much in common, convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

In what contexts can sound take the place of valid?

While the synonyms sound and valid are close in meaning, sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

Where would telling be a reasonable alternative to valid?

The words telling and valid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of valid This ticket is for admission to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (one theme park per day, not valid for admission to Magic Kingdom). —Devonne Goode, Parents, 12 Apr. 2025 On Thursday at 11:09 p.m. a dense fog advisory was issued by the NWS San Diego CA valid for Friday between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. for Orange County Coastal. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2025 This particular deal is valid for certain flights purchased between April 10 to April 15 and booked for travel in May and September through December 2025. —Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025 Citizen Green-card holder Long-term visa Short-term visa No valid visa Could you be denied entry or detained while attempting to enter the United States? —Albert Sun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for valid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for valid
  1. logical
  2. reasonable
  3. coherent
  4. rational
  5. good
  6. sensible
Adjective
  • This cannot be explained only by logical arguments or dry legal language.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But Robert John’s path on the charts had never exactly been a logical one.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of logical
Adjective
  • Ars wrote more about why this is a reasonable path forward last September.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Ovechkin’s 52 in a high-scoring 2005-06 season feels like a reasonable benchmark for modern snipers, and even that’s tough.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • Right now, though, a coherent A.I. policy seems well-nigh inconceivable.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • And unlike misspellings or other mistakes, large swaths of coherent text don’t give the reader clues that the transcriptions could be inaccurate, potentially leading users to use them in high-stakes scenarios without ever finding their failures.
    — Asmelash Teka Hadgu, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of coherent
Adjective
  • Rajula Srivastava, for contributions in harmonic analysis and analytic number theory, including contributions to the problem of counting rational points near smooth manifolds.
    — Alex Cramer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Apr. 2025
  • There is no rational analysis that would lead one to the conclusion that a President would single-handedly decide to blow up a century’s worth of globalization on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in April.
    — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of rational
Adjective
  • Shorts are the only categories whose winners are ineligible for best picture, acting, screenplay or any other major Oscar, due to their length.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • After a week full of monstrous swings, the S&P 500 posted its best weekly performance since November 23, while the Nasdaq saw its best week since November 2022, according to the financial data firm FactSet.
    — Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of good
Adjective
  • Wear sensible shoes to explore Kathleen Ferguson’s urban flower farm built on a slope.
    — Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Your idea about cremation so your ashes can be divided between the two gravesites seems sensible to me.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of sensible

Browse Nearby Words

valiants
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Cite this Entry

“Valid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/valid. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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