Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of identical are equal, equivalent, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

In what contexts can equal take the place of identical?

In some situations, the words equal and identical are roughly equivalent. However, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When is equivalent a more appropriate choice than identical?

The synonyms equivalent and identical are sometimes interchangeable, but equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

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

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 identical?

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 identical Lamborghini’s Espada and Jarama are twins under the skin, sharing identical drivetrains and unibody platforms, the Jarama with a wheelbase shorter by 10 inches and featuring two cramped rear seats. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2025 Tariffs will also affect the price of new cars, similar to how the prices of new and used cars were nearly identical during the COVID-19 pandemic, Metzgar said. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2025 The days of rolling out identical lineups littered with superstars are gone. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 Two major law firms filed separate federal lawsuits Friday challenging nearly identical March executive orders from the White House. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for identical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identical
Adjective
  • Brown made the Pro Bowl that same season and then another two years later.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
  • That same attorney also told People in 2023 about the Ellerup.
    Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 4 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • In its second week, the record tallied 131,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending March 27, with streams totaling to 124,000.
    Thania Garcia, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Strong Sales and Streams Keep Both Albums Alive According to Luminate, Sour moved 14,800 equivalent units in the past tracking frame, while Guts was close behind with 14,600.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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