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
The separation of church and state is not equivalent to the suppression of the church by the state. Dan Miller, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Winds at that strength are equivalent to a tropical storm. Anna Skinner, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 The Nets were seeking two first-round picks or equivalent for his services. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025 The energy those two debris streams expended to create the two canyons is equivalent to that of the global nuclear weapons arsenal. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for equivalent 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • Recent weeks saw the issue of bias in refereeing become a public debate between Madrid coach Ancelotti and his Atletico counterpart Diego Simeone, with both men snapping back and forth at each other at various times.
    Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
  • In the film, Elizabeth Sparkle (Moore) uses The Substance to create a younger counterpart, Sue (Qualley).
    Fred Topel, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Defenceman Larry Murphy is a nice comparable to Bouchard in this way.
    Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • In the same period, in 2023, there were just 19 comparable real estate transactions.
    Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • For another, the two telescopes’ image resolutions are very different.
    Jeffrey Kluger/Greenbelt, TIME, 8 Feb. 2025
  • This is drastically different from other sports leagues, such as Major League Baseball, where sponsorship contributes a smaller portion of total revenue.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The development is analogous to NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program, diversifying China’s options for supplying the Tiangong space station.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The department’s usage is expected to be analogous to the breakdown of the BCA’s report.
    Graham P. Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Brendon Thorne | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut benchmark interest rates for the first time in over four years, finally joining ranks with other major global central banks, as softening inflation allows room for easing policy.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
  • She was identified as a person of interest in other murders as well, including the murder of Curtis Lind, a landlord in Vallejo, California, who was stabbed to death three days before the Vermont shooting.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Investigators said the suspects used a similar break-in method each time.
    Christina Shaw, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Thirteen of Monday’s quakes registered magnitudes greater than 4, while several more with similar magnitudes struck on Tuesday.
    Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But Friday’s court filing says the FBI subsequently turned over a record that pairs the numbers with corresponding names.
    Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025
  • For medical marijuana the corresponding figures backing legalization were 75 percent of Republicans, 73 percent of independents and 86 percent of Democrats.
    Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In its place is the Terran Empire, a brutal and colonizing force that encapsulates the terrifying darkness of this alternative world.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
  • What To Know In 2022, the European Union (EU) adopted the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which, in part, required Apple to allow users to download apps from alternative app stores such as the AltStore PAL, which is only available in the EU.
    Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near equivalent

Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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