In developing a revision of Syntrichia in the Neotropics, seven names are newly synonymized based on morphological data. Syntrichia ciliata, S. prostrata, S. ruralis var. spiralis and S. viridula are considered to be conspecific with S. andicola, S. serrulata, S. princeps and S. lacerifolia, respectively. Tortula goudotii var. boliviana is transferred into Syntrichia and synonymized with S. andicola. Syntrichia bipedicellata and S. linguifolia are newly synonymized with S. fragilis. Lectotypes for three names currently included in Syntrichia are designated here.