conform
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
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Conform, with its prefix con-, "with" or "together", means basically "to adopt the form of those around you". Thus, employee behavior must usually conform with basic company policies. A certain philosophy may be said to conform with American values (even if we sometimes have a hard time agreeing on exactly what those are). And a Maine Coon cat or a Dandie Dinmont terrier must conform to its breed requirements in order to be registered for breeding purposes. Being a conformist is usually a safe bet; being a nonconformist, who ignores society's standards and the whole idea of conformity, can be a bit dangerous but also sometimes more fun.
Synonyms
- accord
- agree
- answer
- check
- chord
- cohere
- coincide
- comport
- consist
- correspond
- dovetail
- fit
- go
- harmonize
- jibe
- rhyme
- rime
- sort
- square
- tally
Example Sentences
Carlos Melendez, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, though, is not one to conform to conventional norms. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 However, these products are not typically required to conform to any standards, leading to a highly manual process of integration. Sanjeev Mohan, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 This pillow was also designed by a chiropractor to conform to the natural curves of a person's body while giving stability where it's needed. Caitlyn Hitt, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2022 Even women who worked outside the home were expected to conform to feminine ideals that emphasized their differences from men. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 Not all masculinity is toxic, and kids shouldn’t be forced to conform to any particular way of being. Peggy Drexler, CNN, 11 Aug. 2022 Objectively, the Duchess of Sussex has not been willing to conform to every requirement of the institution—notably the Anglo-Saxon ones. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2022 Republicans fervently oppose altering GILTI to conform to the OECD’s global minimum corporate tax. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 20 July 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French conformer, from Latin conformare, from com- + formare to form, from forma form
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
conform
verb
Legal Definition
conform
intransitive verb
conform
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- correspond
- coincide
- fit
- agree
- comport
- harmonize
- consist
- align
- cohere
- sort
- check
- go
- accord
- dovetail
- answer
- match
- jibe
- square
- rhyme
- chord
- tally
- rime
- parallel
- equal
- fall in with
- register
- line up
- aline
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- differ (from)
- contradict
- disagree (with)
- nullify
- conflict
- negate
- dispute
- gainsay
- jar
- clash
Synonyms & Similar Words
- blend
- correspond
- correlate
- match
- coordinate
- harmonize
- agree
- groove
- meet
- chime
- consort
- balance
- merge
- parallel
- assort
- dovetail
- chime in
- bond
- coalesce
- hang together
- square
- fuse
- cohere
- tally
- conjoin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conflict
- differ
- contradict
- diverge
- contrast
- offset
- collide
- counter
- counteract
- jar
- clash
- cancel (out)
- negate
Synonyms & Similar Words
- reconcile
- adapt
- align
- coordinate
- integrate
- accommodate
- harmonize
- attune
- suit
- combine
- conciliate
- key
- match
- correlate
- merge
- connect
- tune
- blend
- fit
- balance
- synthesize
- standardize
- unify
- synchronize
- dovetail
- even
- unite
- pair
- orchestrate
- order
- equalize
- square
- proportion
- regularize
- join
- fuse
- arrange
- aline
- array
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disrupt
- disturb
- confuse
- skew
- upset
- disorganize
- disharmonize
- alienate
- disarray
- estrange
- disorder
Synonyms & Similar Words
- adapt
- adjust
- tailor
- suit
- put
- shape
- fit
- accommodate
- customize
- edit
- prepare
- condition
- acclimate
- match
- modify
- alter
- fashion
- transform
- acclimatize
- bend
- establish
- convert
- doctor
- readjust
- correct
- revise
- model
- tune
- harmonize
- pattern
- equip
- orient
- readapt
- attune
- regulate
- rework
- orientate
- recast
- square
- ready
- familiarize
- root
- accustom
- acquaint
- gear
- reengineer
- toughen
- reclaim
- harden
- reinvent
- redesign
- remake
- habituate
- recycle
- prime
- settle
- refashion
- rehearse
- inure
- redo
- train
- refigure
- refocus
- phase
- remodel
- rejigger
- naturalize
- rig
- redevelop
- revamp
- register
- season
- habilitate
- refit
- make over
- fine-tune
- fiddle (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misadjust
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of conform are accommodate, adapt, adjust, and reconcile. While all these words mean "to bring one thing into correspondence with another," conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle.
The words accommodate and conform can be used in similar contexts, but accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence.
The meanings of adapt and conform largely overlap; however, adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances.
In some situations, the words adjust and conform are roughly equivalent. However, adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism.
The synonyms reconcile and conform are sometimes interchangeable, but reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible.