1
as in totals
a complete amount of something
the sum of human knowledge on that subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in summaries
a short statement of the main points
the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in heights
the highest part or point
he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in roots
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in adds
to combine (numbers) into a single sum
can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sums
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The Most Valuable Vinyl Records The most valuable records of all time have sold at auction for unbelievable sums of money.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
In the film, an assistant struggling to survive in Los Angeles is thrown a lifeline when a complete stranger offers her increasingly large sums of money to do stranger and stranger challenges.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
That proposal would raise far higher sums than anything lawmakers discussed with The Bee this week.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
So the Christians being abducted have to cough out huge sums as ransoms.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Investors can accumulate silver ounces gradually and diversify across products or make smaller purchases without committing large sums at once.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Defense attorney Marc Carlos argued Friday that prosecutors failed to turn up evidence that Bonillo was being paid large sums of money by the cartel.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
Otherwise, the state or large cities would need to pay huge sums to fellow CAP users to persuade them to forgo their water and let more vulnerable users stay wet.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Katie Grant, Parents, 16 Dec. 2025
Still, according to the investigative media outlet Mongabay, Petroperú has accumulated nearly $100 million in penalties for environmental damage across the country — sums the highly indebted state-company is not likely to be able to pay in the foreseeable future.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
Dobbins’ impact for the Broncos can be measured in several ways, but one stat maybe sums it up as well as any.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Spence’s post on social media after Spurs’ victory over Man City at the Etihad perfectly sums him up.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
Those sums would likely be diluted, given baseball teams carry 26 players and NBA teams carry up to 15, but money is still money.
—Verb
Parents sat down with Avatar star and Academy Award-winner, Zoe Saldaña, who sums the film up beautifully.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sums
Noun
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Job totals being cut in Raleigh and Wilmington were not disclosed by the airline.—
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If dry air is stronger or advances farther south than expected, snow totals will trend lower.—
Noun
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Meeting summaries from the Danish Vaccine Council — an expert panel that advises Denmark on vaccine recommendations — from November, 2024 suggest growing interest in reassessing rotavirus, chickenpox and hepatitis B vaccinations.—
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Several Canadian viewers shared clips and summaries of the story on social media, and within hours, the videos went viral on platforms like Reddit and Bluesky.—
Noun
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After a transformational year, Narváez is ready to improve and reach new heights in his second Red Sox season.—
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But this year, the desire for a personalized home is reaching new heights.—
Noun
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No one could trace the secret roots of Skinny Pedro’s devotion to the world of machines.—
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Leaving stems and leaves intact through winter provides extra insulation to plant roots and crowns and protects plants from cold damage.—
Verb
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The new proposal also adds an understory level for parking and storage that wasn’t included in the original plans.—
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Colandrea adds a dynamic offensive piece under coordinator Dana Holgorsen.—
Noun
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Only Spain misses out on the centerline, but long totalities are still possible there — up to 4 minutes, 40 seconds.—
Noun
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Cleaning the surrounding area, not just the stain, helps prevent outlines as the shoes dry.—
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The nascent anti-smartphones movement in America is decidedly nonpartisan, for the most part, and this contributes to its potential and also to the vagueness of its outlines.—
Noun
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They can easily be transitioned from lounging at home to a street-ready outfit or casual traveling, as the stripes can be mixed and matched with a wide range of tops like blazers, denim jackets, and simple tees—all without looking sloppy.—
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Keep browsing for discounts on other product categories as well, including sweaters, coats, tops, skirts, and more.—
Cite this Entry
“Sums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sums. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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