equivalent 1 of 2

Definition of equivalentnext
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
Noun
Serving more than one million Sacramento County residents, the EchoWater plant is the equivalent of 18 football fields in size, Dobson said. Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 Researchers at Yale University found that Babbel learners who completed a semester-equivalent of Spanish study—about 15 hours—saw their oral proficiency improve by 100% in three months. Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 3 June 2026
Adjective
El Mala has only played a single Bundesliga season, so is not really at an equivalent stage of his career. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 29 May 2026 Reuters additionally reported that Bohai oilfield’s cumulative oil and gas equivalent output has now exceeded 40 million metric tonnes, underlining its growing importance within China’s domestic energy system. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • The female gaze Few women photographed Monroe, and there’s a stark contrast between Arnold’s naturalistic, candid style and the more flirtatious interplay of her male counterparts.
    Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • Copper cables, pioneered over 180 years ago by Samuel Morse, often hang next to their modern counterparts, fiber optic lines.
    John Ruwitch, NPR, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Accessible rooms are available, putting this hotel head and shoulders above comparable historic properties.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • No, Love Island contestants aren’t exactly producing dialogue comparable to The Bard of Avon’s work.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • Officials at the Air Resources Board then spent the last several months drafting and revising the plan voted on this week, which received considerable feedback from oil and gas companies, environmental groups, lobbyists and lawmakers all jockeying for different priorities.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
  • Each ticket costs $5, and players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • First on the stand on Thursday was Mark Porter, who works as a forensic video analyst with the Tarrant County district attorney’s office, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
  • But don’t assume every potential dating partner is out to get you.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • StubHub said the demand for Game 3 tickets at MSG is analogous to the Super Bowl.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 4 June 2026
  • Despite the analogous finals matchup, some components of modern life in 2026 may look unfamiliar to the time traveler, while other scenes may strike a similar chord.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • In War and Peace, Tolstoy’s concept—among a million other things—was to show how the young people who lived through the Napoleonic invasion went on to lead Russia’s first democratic uprising, the Decembrist Revolt of 1825.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • It can be booked for private sessions, but if full, the spa menu offers plenty of other indulgences.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • According to data from research firm Alpine Macro, Indian stocks are currently trading at 21 times forward earnings, similar to Taiwan, while South Korean equities are trading at nine times forward earnings.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 June 2026
  • This presumably means ground operations, which could result in considerable American casualties, or infrastructure strikes, which could lead Iran to retaliate against similar targets in the Gulf.
    Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • At the height of her piousness, Adele is confronted with a substitute English teacher, Bromley Stokes, a hippie from San Francisco, who, to her dismay, changes all the rules of school.
    Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • However, when lawmakers passed the cannabis sales bills in March, Spanberger proposed a substitute bill of her own with several changes, but the General Assembly rejected her amendments and sent the original bill back unchanged.
    Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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