analogy

1
as in metaphor
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 equivalent
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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Synonym Chooser

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

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

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 analogy That analogy neglects the great distances and associated challenges of the Asia theatre. Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025 In past discussions, Asimov had employed the apt analogy of examining the elemental motion of gasses, where movements of each individual molecule is nearly impossible to predict, but taken as a whole its progressions and paths can be charted out across inconceivable oceans of time. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025 There, on the edge of a mine, the analogy was to metal. Big Think, 26 Aug. 2025 The Munich Agreement The Munich Agreement – the deal that ceded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler’s Germany in a bid to avert war in Europe — is the granddaddy of historical analogies. Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for analogy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogy
Noun
  • An earnest and thoughtful executive with a warm, open demeanor, Pinault was seated at Monday’s interview under a large black-and-white painting of an owl, the mascot for Kering — and a metaphor for his watchful eyes on shifting consumer sentiment and economic fluctuations.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That metaphor of resilience was remembered by Canadians in February.
    Steve Tengler, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Jellycat — the British equivalent of Beanie Babies — was founded as a high-end children’s toy brand in London in 1999.
    Denni Hu, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • On average, participants reported using the equivalent of 10 to 17 joints per week considering today's strains are widely reported to be much stronger than in past decades.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Evans is played by different actors at each stage of his life and thanks to the subtle similarities between them, the entire show flows smoothly.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The similarities might not have stuck out quite as much, but James Dyson’s words about copycats rang in my mind.
    Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Zoo life can be a lux experience for these Arizonan species, but for their wild counterparts living in the Sonoran desert, there is no escape from the region’s extreme heat and extended drought.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Along with the Cannes Film Festival, Venice has soared in popularity and notoriety as their North American counterparts — most notably Toronto and Sundance — have struggled to remain relevant.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Analogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analogy. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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