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notwithstanding

8 synonyms for notwithstanding, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Prep — In spite of; despite.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

withal even so all the same

Synonyms by Meaning

1. prep

In spite of; despite.

“Notwithstanding personal preferences, the school district's rules on the topic govern our decision.”

2. adv

Nevertheless; all the same.

“He, notwithstanding, persisted in his inquiries.”

How to use notwithstanding

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

notwithstanding the fact that law notwithstanding

Fairly formal or legal in tone — "despite" is more natural in everyday speech.

Etymology

From Middle English notwithstandinge, a fusion of not + withstanding, literally "not standing against it."

Full origin of notwithstanding →

Frequently asked questions

What does “notwithstanding” mean?
The word “notwithstanding” means in spite of; despite. In plain terms, a formal way of saying "despite" or "even so.".
How do you pronounce “notwithstanding”?
“Notwithstanding” is pronounced not-wihth-STAN-dihng (/ˌnɑtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “notwithstanding” in a sentence?
Here is “notwithstanding” used in a sentence: “Notwithstanding the bad weather, the match went ahead.”
What part of speech is “notwithstanding”?
Depending on how it is used, “notwithstanding” can be a preposition and an adverb.
Where does the word “notwithstanding” come from?
The word “notwithstanding” comes from Middle English. From Middle English notwithstandinge, a fusion of not + withstanding, literally "not standing against it.".
Is “notwithstanding” a common word?
“Notwithstanding” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “notwithstanding” have?
“Notwithstanding” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in spite of; despite.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.