perihelion
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for perihelion, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The point in an orbit, such as a planet's or comet's, that is closest to the Sun.
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The point in an orbit, such as a planet's or comet's, that is closest to the Sun.
“In this case, the rate of advance of the perihelia of their elliptical orbits provides important information about the masses of the neutron stars as well as providing very sensitive tests of general relativity itself.”
Opposites
2. noun
(figurative) The highest point of something; its peak.
“This brilliant trick was the invention of the late Dr. Hofzinzer, of Vienna, who, at the perihelion of his fame, was regarded as the greatest card conjurer in the world.”
Etymology
Formed from the obsolete word perihelium (“perihelion”) plus the suffix -ion, used for other names of apsides. Perihelium was borrowed from Late Latin perihelium, itself from Ancient Greek περι- (peri-, “around; surrounding”), which goes back to Proto-Indo-European *per- (“before, in front; first”), combined with ἥλιος...
Full origin of perihelion →