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analogy

Q: How is the word 'analogy' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of analogy are likeness , resemblance , similarity , and similitude . While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities. // pointed out analogies to past wars

Q: How do 'likeness' and 'similarity' relate to one another, in the sense of 'analogy'?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike. // a remarkable likeness to his late father // some similarity between the two cases

Q: When might 'resemblance' be a better fit than 'analogy'?

In some situations, the words resemblance and analogy are roughly equivalent. However, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities. // statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

Q: When is 'similitude' a more appropriate choice than 'analogy'?

While in some cases nearly identical to analogy , similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions. // two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

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Synonyms & Antonyms of analogy

1 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.

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for analogy

device

2 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.

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for analogy

homology

Antonyms & Near Antonyms for analogy

dissimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions About analogy

How is the word analogy distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of analogy are likeness, resemblance, similarity, and similitude. While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

How do likeness and similarity relate to one another, in the sense of analogy?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father

some similarity between the two cases

When might resemblance be a better fit than analogy?

In some situations, the words resemblance and analogy are roughly equivalent. However, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth