analogy

1
as in metaphor
a way of describing or explaining one thing by means of describing another with which it shares certain points or qualities The teacher used the analogy of a common pipeline to explain bandwidth on the Internet.

Related Words

Relevance
2
as in equivalent
resemblance in certain points or qualities between two or more otherwise unlike things The study made note of analogies between human and ape social behavior.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word analogy distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of analogy are likeness, resemblance, similarity, and similitude. While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

How do likeness and similarity relate to one another, in the sense of analogy?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father
some similarity between the two cases

When might resemblance be a better fit than analogy?

In some situations, the words resemblance and analogy are roughly equivalent. However, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

When is similitude a more appropriate choice than analogy?

While in some cases nearly identical to analogy, similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

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 analogy The analogy does not hold up under scrutiny. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025 People make close, intense bonds when stuck in the Big Brother house together, and Vince and Morgan’s dynamic crosses more lines with each passing day, emotional cheating threatening to tip into physical even as Vince continues to hopelessly cloak his feelings in flimsy analogies and code phrases. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025 Pleima brought in an analogy that set the tone for the entire discussion, comparing a Keurig coffee to a Starbucks latte. Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 While many of her fellow interpretability researchers draw inspiration from neuroscience, Saphra favors a different analogy. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for analogy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogy
Noun
  • And while the film’s metaphor seems to indicate that Jesse’s burgeoning sexuality is something to fear, the ridiculousness of the dialogue and Patton’s shrieking performance make this a perverse camp classic.
    Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
  • The sequence is pure spectacle, but amidst the heavy-handed metaphor, there's a timely commentary about the risks of relying on this type of technology at all.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Despite a disparaging 1-3 start to the year for Florida, SEC Network’s College GameDay equivalent, SEC Nation, set up camp in GainesvilleSaturday.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Last month, Evercore analysts joined the overwhelming Street consensus and downgraded Texas Roadhouse from a buy-equivalent to a neutral rating.
    Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Researchers have long assumed that sulfur isotopes would likely also exhibit these similarities.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
  • While the pressure tactics used by Cruz and Carr have similarities, Rogers said there are also key differences between the legislative and executive branches.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Measures announced on the trip, aimed at boosting business ties in the wake of the signing of the UK/India Free Trade Agreement signed in July 2025, included a MOU between the BFI and its Indian counterpart, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The best Korean makeup products boast similarly innovative formulas as their skin-care counterparts, acting as complexion multitaskers—often with imaginative packaging that adds points for function and whimsy.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Analogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analogy. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on analogy

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!