as in similar
having qualities in common
alcoholism and drug addiction are cognate disorders
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Recent Examples of cognate
The aspiring actress Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie) is cognate with the earlier film’s domineering, petulant, and voice-challenged silent-film diva Lina Lamont (who, in effect, gets a backstory here).
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2022
Remembering in daylight this sensation of awaking from a dreamworld to reality seemed cognate to the experience on the highway: the feeling of being ensorcelled and then awaking from it.
—John Crowley, Harper's Magazine, 8 Dec. 2021
Hence his own always dubious business celebrity became cognate with the mantra of Making America Great Again.
—Kyle Edward Williams, The New Republic, 9 Dec. 2020
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2022
Remembering in daylight this sensation of awaking from a dreamworld to reality seemed cognate to the experience on the highway: the feeling of being ensorcelled and then awaking from it.
—John Crowley, Harper's Magazine, 8 Dec. 2021
Hence his own always dubious business celebrity became cognate with the mantra of Making America Great Again.
—Kyle Edward Williams, The New Republic, 9 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognate
Adjective
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The committee will hold public hearings to learn what caused the collapse and how similar accidents can be avoided in the future.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Growing to a similar height is the mimosa or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), another leguminous species.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These are not real feelings, Anthropic’s researchers emphasized, but patterns in the model’s neural activations that guide its responses, shaping decisions, preferences, and outputs in ways loosely analogous to human emotions.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Compared to last year, arrests were down 14% citywide over an analogous 30-day spring break period, according to Miami Beach police.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One of the few clubs with comparable fees, the Yellowstone Club in Montana, offers access to multiple resorts, 50 ski trails and more than a dozen restaurants across a members-only area the size of Manhattan.—
Bernard Condon,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
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The average American of 1925, Bradley noted, citing his team’s considerable research for its new book, lived at a standard of living roughly comparable to South Africa today.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Accommodations On Mustique, no two villas are alike.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
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The rooms In the Agassiz mansion, no two rooms are alike.—
Todd Plummer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Prosecutors say the suspects did not have the permits required under Kenya’s wildlife conservation laws to handle or trade such species.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Few companies are as deeply embedded in how the country works – in offices, schools, government agencies, living rooms and gaming consoles – and few inspire such complicated loyalty.—
J. Kyle Foster,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cognate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognate. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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