equivalent 1 of 2

as in counterpart
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value that huge mansion at the end of the street is the equivalent of five ordinary houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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equivalent

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word equivalent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of equivalent are equal, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When would equal be a good substitute for equivalent?

While in some cases nearly identical to equivalent, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Where would identical be a reasonable alternative to equivalent?

Although the words identical and equivalent have much in common, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How are the words same and selfsame related as synonyms of equivalent?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route
derived from the selfsame source

How does the word very relate to other synonyms for equivalent?

Very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

Example 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 equivalent
Adjective
Italy also won the women’s equivalent, the Billie Jean King Cup, in the same city, with two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini propelling her country to a 2-0 victory over Slovakia in the final. James Hansen, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025 The Elizabeth terminal has a current capacity of 2.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 14 ship-to-shore cranes, each designed with a 23-container outreach. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2025 Future Nostalgia’s Current Success Luminate reports that in the past tracking frame, Future Nostalgia moved about 8,700 equivalent album units. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 In its first week (March 7-13), the LP earned 10,000 equivalent album units in the United States, with 7,000 in album sales, according to Luminate. Jim Asker, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • He was joined by his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other officials at Saturday's Reunion of Honor event.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Unlike top Canadian officials, Sheinbaum has so far avoided getting into a war of words with her American counterpart.
    Rafael Romo, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The most far-reaching version of Trump’s strategy would raise the effective, or average, tariff on U.S. imports to about 20%, comparable to the heavy import duties the nation imposed in the 1930s and that contributed to the Great Depression, Zandi said.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
  • There are several solutions Baltimore could implement immediately to fix its open records process, like creating an online request center comparable to most other large cities.
    John Hart, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • New York is estimated to have over 100 different types of trees, with the most common kinds being birch, maple and beech trees.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Williams has been out since March 10 due to different issues.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In Pachter’s comparison, mobile games are analogous to McDonald’s, while Nintendo is the steakhouse.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The league maintains the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Third, Seventh, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits have held that consumers in analogous situations to Salazar suffered no concrete harm when the transmission was non-public.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Israeli government shut down the supply of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza ahead of the offensive, in a bid to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and impose new conditions on the extension of the ceasefire.
    Tim Lister and Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
  • In the lead up to the party, Eady had expressed contrition to other cast members about her previous actions toward Moore.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The men and women in the study had similar nicotine use, sleep habits, cholesterol levels, and obesity rates.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Loyola Chicago took a similar path to the NIT, winning nine of their last 11 games to raise their record from 12-8 to 21-10 before bowing out in the second round of their conference tournament.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After a difficult debut, Notre Dame has looked more like itself under Ivey ever since, just without the corresponding postseason success to show for it.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Year-over-year office utilization improvements ranged from 2.2% to 9% over the corresponding weeks in 2024.
    Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Moldovan streetwear thrives in Chișinău's underground clubs and alternative spaces rather than mainstream boutiques.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • And Woltman and the team started pushing the song to alternative radio, sensing an opportunity to expand its success there.
    Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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