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equal

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noun

equal

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of equal are equivalent, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When might equivalent be a better fit than equal?

In some situations, the words equivalent and equal are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When is identical a more appropriate choice than equal?

The synonyms identical and equal are sometimes interchangeable, but identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

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

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 equal?

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 equal
Adjective
Playing a style of football that was equal parts physical and explosive, Winchester (3-0) capitalized on nearly every Masco mistake. Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025 Repeat with three more eggs, allowing each egg an equal amount of space in the skillet. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
The second one is that the deliberation needs to be among equals; people need to have more or less the same influence in the conversation. ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2025 Also looming on the horizon is the Sony Alpha 6500, which should at least be the equal of the Alpha 6300 in terms of image quality and autofocus speed, and adds in-body image stabilization, a larger shooting buffer, and a touch screen, all for $1,400. PC Magazine, 23 July 2025
Verb
That equals a national rate of 48 per 100,000 people. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025 This time equals to about two to three full-time employees working on tariffs, prompting the firm to cover its higher expenses by charging customers more. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for equal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equal
Adjective
  • Others wrung riches from the network; Berners-Lee assumed the mantle of moral authority, fighting to safeguard the web’s openness and promote equitable access.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The spirit of giving may not be the first ghost that comes to mind when Halloween comes around, but these neighborhood organizations are asking for donations to make Halloween fun and equitable for local youth.
    Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Each Participant acknowledges and agrees that such Participant will not be entitled to any compensation as a result of any Search Entity’s use of any such similar or identical material.
    Time, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Hackers often create lookalike domains that look nearly identical to real ones, adding small spelling changes or extra words.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s also a special Family Series that’s suitable to attendees of all ages.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Typical seats were replaced with moveable chairs and desks that were suitable but also atypical to Major League setups.
    Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Only on particularly bumpy tarmac did the GTS-spec suspension become too jarring with the adaptive dampers stiffened up in sport mode, but switching them to normal offered the best of both worlds—excellent, composed body control and tuning that ironed out imperfections remarkably well.
    Peter Nelson, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The vocabulary being used by Qatar’s prime minister is strong, evocative and damning, a departure from his usual composed response to the incessant twists and turns of trying to end the 23-month war in Gaza.
    Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Construction in the section of Jackson Park, often described as Chicago’s equivalent of Central Park, has been slow.
    Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 28 Sep. 2025
  • But no amount of finessing the Beetle—the automotive equivalent of a Birkenstock sandal—would turn VW’s ugly duckling into a swan.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • From 149 yards out, McIlroy then launched his approach to within four feet of the cup to seal his foursomes match.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Rescues can usually match you with a dog based on your preferences.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Finally, impact strength assesses a material’s ability to absorb sudden shocks without shattering, highlighting that the hardness alone doesn’t always mean toughness.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The historically low reading scores for all students mean States and communities need to unite—not divide—classrooms.
    Cory Turner, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Boggs’s work on Baldwin, which began in the late 1990s with a campaign to revive the long out-of-print children’s novel, Little Man, Little Man, paralleled the return of Baldwin’s writing to prominence and his rise to the status of cultural icon.
    Megan Marshall September 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The boy’s journey parallels the song’s enduring message—that while oppression and struggle are undeniable, hope and transformation remain just over the horizon.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Equal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equal. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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