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 That suggests the possibility of traffic strategies targeting such neighborhoods, analogous to child safety efforts focused on schools and their surroundings. — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 This event is analogous to one geologists observed in 2021, known as the Chamoli disaster in India. — Thor Benson, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 For Galvani, the frog was an electrical machine analogous to a Leyden jar. — IEEE Spectrum, 31 Aug. 2026 Automakers run an analogous playbook using legacy nameplates. — Stuart N. Brotman, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for analogous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogous
Adjective
  • Researchers have documented similar benefits around the globe.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Airlines, including Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, have started offering similar rewards cards through their partner, JPMorgan Chase.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Tickets cost less than $1, while comparable performances elsewhere can cost as much as $300.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • According to Abramson, the pulses are basically imperceptible, comparable to what a pacemaker sends to the heart.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 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
  • The public allegations offered The Star and readers a unique opportunity to learn more about the often undisclosed abuse and inappropriate workplace behavior that bar employees face and question what accountability looks like in such cases.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Normally, such coordination is the nervous system’s job, carried out by little electrical signals traveling along nerves.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Analogous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analogous. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!