Synonym Chooser

How does the noun facsimile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of facsimile are copy, duplicate, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

When is it sensible to use copy instead of facsimile?

In some situations, the words copy and facsimile are roughly equivalent. However, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can duplicate be used instead of facsimile?

The synonyms duplicate and facsimile are sometimes interchangeable, but duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When might replica be a better fit than facsimile?

Although the words replica and facsimile have much in common, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of facsimile?

While in some cases nearly identical to facsimile, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 facsimile In a universe where Arsenal and Spurs are facsimiles of the same original, this game would be decided only by who are the more faithful version. Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025 If all of this does not indicate Sunny’s sentience, the facsimile thereof is uncanny. Chris Klimek, Vulture, 17 July 2024 So much so, that Bal Harbor Shops last year launched a roving facsimile of the center using 30 shipping containers with satellite stores from its top performers. Sharon Edelson, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024 The article made the case that the technology in chatbots and text-to-video generators creates striking facsimiles of speech and visuals in part because they’re directly trained on Hollywood materials. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for facsimile 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facsimile
Noun
  • Iran’s military displayed replicas of some of its missiles at the square.
    Nasser Karimi, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Visitors can study Iron Age artifacts from the Caucasus territories, an exact replica of the Gallery in Rome’s Papal Palace and one of the world’s largest collections of paintings from Flemish artists like Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens.
    Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Atop that challenge was the matter of what would actually be in the film, since Zeppelin footage is as hard to find as someone in the Seventies who didn’t own a copy of Led Zeppelin IV.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Photo: Ron Bull/Getty Images The back image of Book of Lives features a black-and-white photo of Atwood in the ’70s reading a copy of her second novel, Surfacing, which wrestles with national identity and the marginalization of women, both ambient and overt.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The show shared an image on social media Monday morning announcing the start.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Taylor Swift wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms by every person at the 2025 Super Bowl, with the pop star receiving boos from some members of the crowd when her image appeared on the Caesars Superdome jumbotron Sunday (Feb. 9).
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The body requires manganese for immune function, blood sugar regulation, digestion, reproduction, bone health, blood clotting, antioxidant defense, and many more bodily processes.12 Manganese is found in many plant and animal foods, such as nuts, seeds, seafood, fruit, and beans.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 5 Feb. 2025
  • This discovery is one of many cases where fungi alter host behavior to facilitate their own reproduction.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The most concrete result of therapy has been Milena’s acknowledgment that childbirth was an agonizing experience; her slow-burning resentment of the ungrateful twins has been building ever since.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The twins first joined forces when Taylor signed a three-year, $33 million deal prior to the 2022 season, becoming the fourth set of twins to be teammates in league history.
    Justice delos Santos, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • And consider this: Only two of the last 10 BAFTA winners for best film went on to win the Oscar for best picture — Nomadland in 2021 and Oppenheimer in 2024.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Conclusion Guy Bisson’s analysis paints a picture of a film industry adapting to a new normal.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • This sparks a plan, which comes together at Parker’s plant daddy paradise of a house, where the plant daddy himself suggests that a wedding would be a great venue to clone Roman’s Palm Pilot.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Residing on hillside slopes and gently rolling valleys surrounding the stately medieval village of Montalcino, vineyards in the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are home to a clone of Sangiovese known locally as Brunello, which is a diminutive of the Italian word for brown.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Experts say a portrait bought at an antique market in France about 15 years ago is in fact an early painting by Amedeo Modigliani, according to Corriere Adriatico.
    The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Throughout the trip, the duo explores this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship and transition.
    Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2025

Podcast

Thesaurus Entries Near facsimile

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on facsimile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!