Matter and Reference

Matter

Matter noun - A major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition).

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Reference and matter are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Reference" instead a noun "Matter".

Nearby Words: mattered, mattery, mattering

Reference noun - Something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information.

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Matter and reference are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Matter" instead a noun "Reference".

good	good matter	good reference
particular	particular matter	particular reference
similar	similar matter	similar reference
dead	dead matter	dead reference
Other adjectives: small, actual, entire, real, little, easy, minor, cultural.

For that matter, the English word "guy" is itself a reference to Guy Fawkes that has evolved over the centuries be used as reference for anyone, not just an effigy of the original Guy.

Source: "Weird Al" Effect
Character Development: Subverted; no matter what the characters go through, the most that'll happen is that they'll reference it a little while later.

Source: Literature / The Ashes Series
For reference, the distance between Earth and the Sun is a little over 8 light minutes can be covered in a matter of hours.

Source: Series / Dark Matter

Cite this Source

Reference and Matter. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/matter/reference

Matter & Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/matter/reference>.

Reference or Matter. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/matter/reference.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "matter" and "reference" have occurred on timeline