Merriam-Webster API: Get synonyms
Looks up a word on its public Merriam-Webster thesaurus page and returns each meaning with its example, synonyms, antonyms and related words.
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Inputs
Values from the run on Oct 23, 2026, shown under Output.
- Word, required
word A word to look up in the thesaurus, for example happy.
light
Input as JSON
{ "word": "light"}Output
{ "word": "light", "meanings": [ { "meaning": "the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible", "antonyms": [ "night", "dark", "darkness" ], "synonyms": [ "glow", "glare", "gleam" ], "page_link": "https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light#thesaurus-entry-1-1" , "related_words": [], "part_of_speech": "noun", "example_sentence": "he read poetry to her by the light of the moon" }, { "meaning": "something that provides illumination", "antonyms": [], "synonyms": [ "lamp", "lighting", "candle" ], "page_link": "https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light#thesaurus-entry-1-2" , "related_words": [], "part_of_speech": "noun", "example_sentence": "turn off the light when you go to bed" }, { "meaning": "a person who is widely known and usually much talked about", "antonyms": [ "nobody", "lightweight", "has - been" ], "synonyms": [ "star", "personality", "celebrity" ], "page_link": "https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light#thesaurus-entry-1-3" , "related_words": [], "part_of_speech": "noun", "example_sentence": "a leading light in the acting profession" } ], "thesaurus_link": "https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light" }Code
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"method":"merriam-webster.com/get_synonyms","input":{"word":"light"}}' # Save as fous.py, then run: python3 fous.pyimport json, os, timefrom urllib.error import HTTPErrorfrom urllib.request import Request, urlopenAPI = "https://api.fous.com/v1/runs" KEY = os.environ["FOUS_API_KEY"]HEADERS = { "Authorization": f"Bearer {KEY}", "Content-Type": "application/json" ,}def call(url, body=None): data = json.dumps(body).encode() if body else None request = Request(url, data, HEADERS) try: with urlopen(request, timeout=120) as r: return r.status, json.load(r) except HTTPError as error: message = json.load(error)["error"]["message"] raise RuntimeError(message) from errorstatus, run = call(API, { "method": "merriam-webster.com/get_synonyms" , "input": { "word": "light" }})# 202: still going after 30 s. Ask again until it ends.while status == 202: time.sleep(2) status, run = call(f"{API}/{run['id']}")print(json.dumps(run["data"], indent=2))// Save as fous.mjs, then run: node fous.mjsconst api = "https://api.fous.com/v1/runs" ;const headers = { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FOUS_API_KEY}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" ,};let response = await fetch(api, { method: "POST", headers, body: JSON.stringify({ "method": "merriam-webster.com/get_synonyms" , "input": { "word": "light" } }), signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),});let run = await response.json();// 202: still going after 30 s. Ask again until it ends.while (response.status === 202) { await new Promise((done) => setTimeout(done, 2_000)); response = await fetch(`${api}/${run.id}`, { headers }); run = await response.json();}if (!response.ok) throw new Error(run.error.message);console.log(run.data);# Connect your agent to Fous once, over MCP (Streamable HTTP):# https://api.fous.com/mcp# Set FOUS_API_KEY first: create a key at https://app.fous.com/keys.# Claude Codeclaude mcp add \ --scope user \ --transport http fous https://api.fous.com/mcp \ --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"# Codexcodex mcp add fous \ --url https://api.fous.com/mcp \ --bearer-token-env-var FOUS_API_KEY# Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Cline and morenpx -y add-mcp https://api.fous.com/mcp -g -n fous \ --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"# Then ask your agent:# "Use Fous to run merriam-webster.com/get_synonyms# with {"word":"light"}"Over HTTP, the answer’s data holds the output. A run still going after 30 seconds answers 202 with its id: ask GET /v1/runs/{id} until it ends.
Schema
Input schema
{ "type": "object", "required": [ "word" ], "properties": { "word": { "type": "string", "minLength": 1, "description": "A word to look up in the thesaurus, for example happy." } }, "additionalProperties": false}Output schema
{ "type": "object", "required": [ "word", "thesaurus_link", "meanings" ], "properties": { "word": { "type": "string", "description": "The word shown on the thesaurus page." }, "meanings": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "part_of_speech", "meaning", "example_sentence", "synonyms", "antonyms", "related_words", "page_link" ], "properties": { "meaning": { "type": "string" }, "antonyms": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "synonyms": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "page_link": { "type": "string" }, "related_words": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "part_of_speech": { "type": "string" }, "example_sentence": { "type": [ "string", "null" ] } }, "additionalProperties": false }, "description": "Meanings in the order they appear on the page. Similar words appear under synonyms; related words are included only when shown separately." }, "thesaurus_link": { "type": "string", "description": "Link to the word’s thesaurus page." } }, "additionalProperties": false}- Price
- 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free.
- Method
merriam-webster.com/get_synonyms- Returns
- meanings with part of speech, example, synonyms, antonyms, related words, thesaurus link
Use it from your agent
Give your agent this line. It reads SKILL.md, gets a Fous API key and connects the Fous MCP server. Its run then takes the method merriam-webster.com/get_synonyms with the inputs above.
Ask your agent
- What are some synonyms for the word happy, and what are their antonyms?
- Find me words similar to melancholy with example sentences for each meaning.
- I need a thesaurus entry for ephemeral showing related words and antonyms.
- Look up candid on Merriam-Webster and list the synonyms for each sense.
- Give me the part of speech and synonyms for resilient, plus any related words.
See more
All Merriam-Webster methodsLooks up a word or phrase in Merriam-Webster's dictionary and returns its pronunciation, definitions, examples and word history.
merriam-webster.com/define_wordGets Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for today or a past archive date, with its meaning, example, pronunciation and background note. Dates without a published entry are unavailable.
merriam-webster.com/get_word_of_the_dayGets a word's Thesaurus.com meanings in site order, with part of speech, short meaning, synonyms and antonyms ranked strongest, strong or weak.
dictionary.com/get_synonymsLooks up an English word on Dictionary.com and returns its pronunciation, audio link, numbered definitions per dialect with examples, word origin and first recorded use.
dictionary.com/define_wordFinds words with similar meanings, opposite meanings, adjectives describing a word, or strongly associated words, ordered by relevance.
rhymezone.com/get_related_wordsLooks up a word or phrase on Cambridge Dictionary and returns its ordered meanings, example sentences, grammar labels and UK and US pronunciations.
dictionary.cambridge.org/define_wordLooks up an English word on Etymonline and returns its origin entries, one per part of speech, with the first date mentioned and cross-referenced words.
etymonline.com/get_word_originTranslates a word or phrase between languages using WordReference, including usage notes, example sentences and compound forms when shown. Only language pairs listed by WordReference are available.
wordreference.com/translate_word