ANALOGY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'analogy' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of analogy are likeness , resemblance , similarity , and similitude . While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities. // pointed out analogies to past wars

Q: How do 'likeness' and 'similarity' relate to one another, in the sense of 'analogy'?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike. // a remarkable likeness to his late father // some similarity between the two cases

Q: When might 'resemblance' be a better fit than 'analogy'?

In some situations, the words resemblance and analogy are roughly equivalent. However, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities. // statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

Q: When is 'similitude' a more appropriate choice than 'analogy'?

While in some cases nearly identical to analogy , similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions. // two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

analogy

noun

Definition of analogy next

as in metaphor

a way of describing or explaining one thing by means of describing another with which it shares certain points or qualities The teacher used the analogy of a common pipeline to explain bandwidth on the Internet.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in equivalent

resemblance in certain points or qualities between two or more otherwise unlike things The study made note of analogies between human and ape social behavior.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word analogy distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of analogy are likeness, resemblance, similarity, and similitude. While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

How do likeness and similarity relate to one another, in the sense of analogy?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father

some similarity between the two cases

When might resemblance be a better fit than analogy?

In some situations, the words resemblance and analogy are roughly equivalent. However, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

When is similitude a more appropriate choice than analogy?

While in some cases nearly identical to analogy, similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of analogy In the special, Sloss shares his father’s analogy that life is a jigsaw puzzle and love is a missing interior piece. —

Colson Thayer, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024 These men are not so different, even if Shrinking has to pretzel its characters into unrecognizable versions of themselves to insist upon this analogy. —

Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024 To pick up on the aviation analogy, data centers will soon be regarded like airports—an essential service that keeps the economy moving. —

Andrew Schaap, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 Tashi delivers an insightful analogy between tennis and human connection. —

Robert Lang, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for analogy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogy

Noun

In many ways, the orchestra is the perfect metaphor for the relationship between the individual and society.

The Learning Network, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
What Is ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’ About? Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is a parable for the overreach of technology into our lives, using Wallace’s clunky inventions as a metaphor for smartphones, tablets and generative AI.

Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025