well-known

8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for well-known, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Known about by a lot of people; familiar to the public or to a particular group.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

famous noted prominent celebrated established

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

renowned

Rare, literary or technical

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

common knowledge recognised

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Known about by a lot of people; familiar to the public or to a particular group.

“He is a well-known face on local television.”

famous renowned noted prominent celebrated

Opposites

unknown obscure little-known

2. adjective

Widely accepted or established as fact.

“It is a well-known problem with older models.”

established common knowledge recognised

How to use well-known

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

well-known brand well-known fact well known for widely known

Neutral; safe in both formal and casual writing.

Etymology

From Middle English well knowen. By surface analysis, well + known.

Full origin of well-known →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between well-known and famous?

Famous implies a large, often national or global audience and a degree of celebrity. Well-known is milder and frequently limited to a field or place — a well-known cardiologist is respected within medicine but unlikely to be recognised in the street.

When do you hyphenate well-known?

Hyphenate it before the noun it describes: 'a well-known author'. Leave the hyphen out after the verb: 'the author is well known'. The same rule applies to well-behaved, well-dressed and similar compounds.

Is well-known the same as notorious?

No. Notorious means well known specifically for something bad. Well-known is neutral and carries no judgement, so calling someone notorious when you mean merely famous is a serious change of meaning.

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established famous noted unknown prominent celebrated renowned obscure recognised

Nearby words

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