Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of same are equal, equivalent, identical, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," 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

In what contexts can equal take the place of same?

Although the words equal and same have much in common, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When could equivalent be used to replace same?

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

two houses equivalent in market value

When might identical be a better fit than same?

While in some cases nearly identical to same, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How is very related to other words for same?

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 same Bodycam footage obtained by TMZ captured officers conducting a search of Gibson’s property that same day, during which his grandmother was temporarily placed in the back of a police vehicle. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 7 Oct. 2025 The pair tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2022, and later held a private ceremony with friends and family in Georgia that same year. Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 China wrote its own epic story during that same 80-year span. Peter Leyden, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025 The fees for those same two permits on a new 25,000-square-foot business or multi-family apartment building would almost triple, growing from roughly $1,700 to $4,800. Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for same
Recent Examples of Synonyms for same
Adjective
  • Luckily, the brand also makes this pair, which looks almost identical to hers and is a cool $60 off.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Connection differences aside, the two Bio keys look identical, which is a common theme among the Yubico keys, which tend to be small, sleek, and black, with gold metallic accents.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Nwosu and Mafe were the only linemen to pressure Mayfield in the second half, and Mafe’s came at the very end of the game-tying touchdown play.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • As a leader in outdoor apparel and footwear, VF Corporation recognizes its responsibility to protect the very environment that inspires and sustains its business.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Police asked Arfsten about similar thefts and damage at area Pick ‘n Save locations in the area.
    Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There was a similar effort in the build-up to Bukayo Saka’s goal against Leeds United which, again, won’t count as an assist despite its importance.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Minnesota and Illinois are considering bills that would grant rideshare workers comparable collective bargaining powers.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Paying homage to this history, the 2025 iteration’s Chemigum outsole is oil-resistant, and its roughout leather is much more resilient than the comparable suede, though with a similar underhand feel.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One need only read the US State Department’s 2024 human rights report on China to realize that naming a Chinese official to a human rights advisory committee is analogous to putting a wolf in charge of a hen house.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • At its core, the cloud is a model analogous to electricity, water, and other utilities; computing is a commodified service, generated at a remote location (in this case, a data center) and delivered through a network (here, the internet).
    Asad Ramzanali, Time, 6 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Same.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/same. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on same

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