Definition of analogousnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective analogous contrast with its synonyms?

The words parallel and similar are common synonyms of analogous. While all three words mean "closely resembling each other," analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

When can parallel be used instead of analogous?

While the synonyms parallel and analogous are close in meaning, parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

When is it sensible to use similar instead of analogous?

The synonyms similar and analogous are sometimes interchangeable, but similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

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 analogous The timelines are just different, and finding analogous industries to benchmark defense companies against is not easy. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 2 July 2026 To some investors, the current moment is analogous to the dotcom bubble of the late 1990s. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 June 2026 The four-year ban is analogous with the maximum punishment for intentional doping. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Ali, who has been the series’ resident mentor, father figure, listening ear, voice of reason and confidant, transforms into what is most analogous to an action hero in a revenge plot. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for analogous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogous
Adjective
  • Lawsuit attacks diversity efforts The lawsuit comes amid a broader crackdown on diversity initiatives nationwide as conservatives argue similar programs treat white people unfairly.
    Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • Across the pond, All-Star Games don’t exist, and there really aren’t any similar types of contests.
    Kamran Nia July 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • Taking 4 million barrels off the market would be roughly comparable to the amount that China stopped importing during the war – an action oil analysts say has helped keep energy prices relatively low despite the record-smashing oil supply shock.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • The system is still expanding, but new units are contributing more of the overall growth as comparable sales moderate.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Adjective
  • America's most affluent suburbs are more alike than different.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • According to author Caroline Hallemann—whose book The Kennedys and the Windsors came out on June 2—the two women were even more alike than meets the eye.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • But the ethical waters are murky, and any such project should have high levels of public transparency and accountability, said Lisa Moses, a veterinarian and bioethicist at Harvard Medical School.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • But climate change means that such conditions are no longer confined to specific regions of the globe, and people everywhere are beginning to contend with once-rare events becoming almost routine.
    Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Analogous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analogous. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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