equivalent 1 of 2

Definition of equivalentnext
as in counterpart
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value that huge mansion at the end of the street is the equivalent of five ordinary houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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equivalent

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of equivalent are equal, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When would equal be a good substitute for equivalent?

While in some cases nearly identical to equivalent, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Where would identical be a reasonable alternative to equivalent?

Although the words identical and equivalent have much in common, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

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

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 equivalent?

Very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

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

Some common synonyms of equivalent are equal, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When would equal be a good substitute for equivalent?

While in some cases nearly identical to equivalent, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Where would identical be a reasonable alternative to equivalent?

Although the words identical and equivalent have much in common, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

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

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 equivalent?

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 equivalent
Noun
SpaceX, privately funded and operated by the real world’s closest equivalent of Marvel’s Tony Stark, has developed a reputation for putting on a stunning show with every launch. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026 Alesi said royalties could generate roughly $19 million a month for Oiapoque, about the equivalent of the city’s total goods and services produced each year, according to Brazil’s statistics institute. Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
That means crew's trip is equivalent to nearly 28 trips around the Earth's surface. Tom Costello, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026 The Financial Times reported this week that Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran's energy exports union, said the country would look to impose a tariff equivalent to $1 per barrel. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • Claude’s deployment seemed to come as something of a surprise to its parent company, and an Anthropic executive reportedly reached out to a Palantir counterpart to clarify what, exactly, Claude had done in Caracas.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The Republican National Committee reported roughly $109 million cash on hand in its most recent FEC filing, compared with roughly $16 million for their Democratic counterpart, plus Democrats are carrying about $17 million in debt.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • One of the few clubs with comparable fees, the Yellowstone Club in Montana, offers access to multiple resorts, 50 ski trails and more than a dozen restaurants across a members-only area the size of Manhattan.
    Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The average American of 1925, Bradley noted, citing his team’s considerable research for its new book, lived at a standard of living roughly comparable to South Africa today.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Jeff’s worries, Rogers explains to the camera after seeing his young friend off, are different from the worry that one’s parents might separate.
    Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The three-block stretch, between 16th and 19th avenues, looks markedly different from just a year ago, when tents, abandoned cars and piles of trash crowded the street and sidewalks.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Jones now partners with Kayte Christensen, the team’s current color commentator.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Our expert take The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
    Liz Knueven,Ryley Amond, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • These are not real feelings, Anthropic’s researchers emphasized, but patterns in the model’s neural activations that guide its responses, shaping decisions, preferences, and outputs in ways loosely analogous to human emotions.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Compared to last year, arrests were down 14% citywide over an analogous 30-day spring break period, according to Miami Beach police.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Each cocktail is purposefully crafted, bridging flavors as with a slow-sipper featuring a split whiskey base sees bitter orange, curry leaf, and a bath of hickory smoke paired with the kitchen’s tender rogan josh shank, snappy papadum, and other hits.
    Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
  • That said, China's export momentum will be more insulated from higher energy costs and raw material shortage than other export-reliant peers, Zhang noted, due to the scale and efficiency of the country's manufacturing sector.
    Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The committee will hold public hearings to learn what caused the collapse and how similar accidents can be avoided in the future.
    Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Growing to a similar height is the mimosa or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), another leguminous species.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Not sure the substitute teaching stipends could match that.
    Jay Paris, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
  • On April 28, 2025, Charles was a substitute bus driver transporting 5-year-old Lens from Up Academy in Dorchester to his Hyde Park home, along with his 11-year-old cousin and a school bus full of kids.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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