The term "near-earth object" refers to any object that orbits or passes near the Earth. This can include asteroids, comets, and other smaller objects. There are many synonyms that can be used to describe these objects, such as NEOs, near-Earth asteroids, space rocks, and Earth-crossing objects. Other terms that are sometimes used include potentially hazardous objects, which refers to NEOs that could pose a risk to the Earth if they were to collide with our planet. Some of the larger NEOs are also referred to as minor planets or dwarf planets, as they are often similar in size and composition to some of the smaller objects in our solar system.