1
as in metaphors
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.
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2
as in similarities
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.
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Recent Examples of analogies
More and more, Jackson seeks out biblical analogies and snaps them down like safety catches over the loose ends of his earlier life.
—
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Baseball has a lot of good analogies for fatherhood, even if most of them break down rather quickly.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
Flame analogies aside, the two discussed sustainable technology, raising human standards of living, and humanoid robots.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe did not spare any football analogies when describing the whiskey and the collaborative process.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2026
But the historical analogies have clear flaws.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Sticking with sports analogies, let’s consider a frequent infraction call at a football game.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The coincidence has invited an avalanche of historical analogies.
—Cristina Guevara, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Some carriers have drawn analogies with the electric car industry, where not all electric vehicles have the same plugs and one brand can’t necessarily use another one’s outlets.
—Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Baseball has a lot of good analogies for fatherhood, even if most of them break down rather quickly.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
Flame analogies aside, the two discussed sustainable technology, raising human standards of living, and humanoid robots.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe did not spare any football analogies when describing the whiskey and the collaborative process.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2026
But the historical analogies have clear flaws.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Sticking with sports analogies, let’s consider a frequent infraction call at a football game.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The coincidence has invited an avalanche of historical analogies.
—Cristina Guevara, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Some carriers have drawn analogies with the electric car industry, where not all electric vehicles have the same plugs and one brand can’t necessarily use another one’s outlets.
—Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogies
Noun
-
The lyrics string together repetitive and mostly generic metaphors comparing love to death and commitment to confinement.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
-
There are metaphors aplenty to interpret in a thriller about a town that goes bonkers when 17 kids go missing in the middle of the night and everybody points to their teacher (Julia Garner).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But while their games have some similarities, their personalities on the court are polar opposites.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
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But that’s where their similarities end.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Natives in his book are largely presented as plot devices, not flesh-and-blood individuals.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Kennedy wrote a letter to universities in January suggesting 71 topics, including food allergies, dietary supplements, wearable devices, composting and crop rotation.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But their television equivalents come out nearly every month, gems in a wash of pebbles, pouring unceasingly past.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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But the website doesn't include generic equivalents that can be purchased elsewhere, often at lower prices.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Analogies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analogies. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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