1
as in copy
something that is made to look exactly like something else
the car is a clone under a different brand name—it's even manufactured in the same plant as its cousin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in replica
something or someone that strongly resembles another
the new television series is a clone of half a dozen police procedurals already on the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to copy
to make an exact likeness of
will clone the designer outfit for the ready-to-wear market
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 clone
Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Over time, hematopoietic or blood stem cells can quietly acquire mutations that push them to divide just a little more aggressively, creating a larger group of clones in the bone marrow.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Back in the 1960s, a Japanese firm called Meguro was cloning BSAs.
—New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clone
Noun
As narrator Fennel Tycho explains how the heist went south, Tanzer examines real versus fake, clones versus their primes, and synthselves versus humans.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Over time, hematopoietic or blood stem cells can quietly acquire mutations that push them to divide just a little more aggressively, creating a larger group of clones in the bone marrow.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
The process involves taking cuttings from several vines and propagating them, which promotes genetic diversity, as opposed to cloning, in which only one vine is used, leading to uniform genetics across a vineyard.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Back in the 1960s, a Japanese firm called Meguro was cloning BSAs.
—New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clone
Noun
-
The modern bike on the left is a fairly sharp copy of the 1040s original (right).—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Two members of the Coordination Framework confirmed to The Associated Press having received the message, a copy of which was circulated widely on social media.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The main attraction of the park is the full sized replica of Sutter’s sawmill.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Near the beginning of the site’s trail, a replica village contains several ‘ewaas, which are traditional Kumeyaay homes.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One ecosystem reproduces itself through procedure; the other through attention.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This article originally appeared in Spektrum der Wissenschaft and was reproduced with permission.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Stock show judge Kyndal Reitzenstein emphasizes the differences between judging breeding cattle for reproduction and market animals for food.—
Sara Hansen,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Their findings, detailed in a study published this month in Nature Communications, add new weight to evolutionary biology theories about the trade-off between aging and reproduction.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When properly aligned with the brand’s image, mega-events can also tap into new audiences.—
Charles Taylor,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The barrage of images broadcast out of Minneapolis and surrounding regions depict violent and brutal encounters and capture moments of utter fear, pain and confusion.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mpro, an enzyme that allows SARS-CoV-2 to replicate in host cells, holds structural similarities.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Such observations can be replicated in the lab.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If convicted, Oren and Alon Alexander, 38-year-old twins, and Tal Alexander, 39, could face life in prison.—
Isabelle McCauley,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Twinless was made for next-to-nothing and features O’Brien’s richest screen performance to date as twins — one grieving the death of the other.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The pill his team developed, YCT-529, works by blocking a vitamin-A-dependent protein essential for sperm growth, temporarily rendering men infertile without affecting their testosterone levels and thereby potentially introducing related side effects.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Supporters of the pardon power further assured their colleagues that impeachment would furnish a corrective to any overuse of pardoning, underestimating the extent to which the modern party system would render this nearly impossible.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clone. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
