Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective similar contrast with its synonyms?

The words analogous and parallel are common synonyms of similar. While all three words mean "closely resembling each other," similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

When can analogous be used instead of similar?

The synonyms analogous and similar are sometimes interchangeable, but analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

In what contexts can parallel take the place of similar?

While the synonyms parallel and similar are close in meaning, parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

Examples 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 similar In the locker room, players came to Forsyth’s defense with similar intensity. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024 Both comic and series have suffered a similar fate — being buried in a landslide of Too Much Stuff — and both are clever little delights that deserve to be remembered. Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 But a dedicated federal funding source could enable similar roadway reboots nationwide. David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024 Spotted owls, which were at the center of the 1990s timber wars in this part of Oregon, require similar habitat to survive. April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for similar 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for similar
Adjective
  • The decrease is attributed to a decline in comparable store sales and strategic pricing investments.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The box-office success of Tim Burton’s Batman got CBS to open its checkbook to give those fans a comparable network show, and The Flash spared no expense.
    Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The potential for outsized influence by a foreign power in a country’s internal affairs is analogous to the American discussion over fracking.
    Daniel Markind, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The artist agents of recent years look to play an analogous role on behalf of artists themselves.
    Natasha Degen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Its 69 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and some have private landscaped terraces with wooden trellises sparkling with lights, but no two rooms are alike.
    Devorah Lev-Tov, TIME, 25 July 2024
  • Their cases seemed eerily alike to a lot of people, including Arelie’s sisters.
    Dateline NBC, NBC News, 16 July 2024
Adjective
  • Having two such strong candidates for acting honors could boost The Penguin, but what might end up making the biggest difference is what categories the show will compete in.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Fuchs said such rapid flips between extremes were precisely what the government’s Fifth National Climate Assessment predicted.
    Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near similar

Cite this Entry

“Similar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/similar. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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