duplicate 1 of 3

Definition of duplicatenext

duplicate

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noun

duplicate

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verb

1
as in to copy
to make an exact likeness of art students trying to duplicate paintings in the museum's collection as part of their training

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to replicate
to make or do again we were unable to duplicate the experiment in our own lab, so we're suspicious

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to double
to make twice as great or as many the recipe can be easily duplicated in order to feed a large family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun duplicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When is it sensible to use copy instead of duplicate?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can facsimile be used instead of duplicate?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to duplicate?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate are close in meaning, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

When might reproduction be a better fit than duplicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 duplicate
Adjective
Toss unmatched or damaged Tupperware, old gadgets, and duplicate kitchen tools to free up space. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 May 2026 Sharing that data allows agencies that issue driver’s licenses to verify that a person doesn’t have duplicate licenses in multiple states. Sacramento Bee Contributor, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
The election is taking place after a sweeping revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India aimed at removing duplicate, deceased and ineligible voters. ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 Of the more than 100 habeas petitions that have already been closed this year, a federal judge rejected only one, The Post found, while a few dozen more were duplicates or were dismissed voluntarily. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
San Diego-type redevelopment around ballparks has been duplicated in San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Washington, Cleveland and finally now even New York, where a casino has been approved next to Citi Field. Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 But Elliott’s openness to the idea of duplicating a move his father made 25 years ago was greeted with near-unanimous approval online. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • Peach trees grown from seed won't be identical to the parent plant.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026
  • The menu is identical across locations, showcasing dishes found in regions along the 41st parallel.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • This new image uses data from the Sentinel-3 mission to show in vibrant color just how extreme and far-reaching this heat has been.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Multiple copies of Howl, Kaddish, and assembled collections of complete verse lined (and still line) my bookshelves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • The California Secretary of State’s office encouraged voters in that position to bring identification to the polling location, or include a copy in a vote-by-mail ballot.
    Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Their goal is to reproduce a 1919 eclipse experiment that measured how the sun’s gravity bends the light from distant stars and confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, according to the Spanish Scientific and Advisory Committee for the Trio of Eclipses.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
  • Star of Bethlehem reproduces through underground bulbs and bulblets.
    Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • While other states, including Colorado and Missouri, have tried to replicate this legendary bike ride, none have matched Iowa.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • From the young, long-haired goalkeeper who appeared in Germany 2006 to the veteran leader who now seeks to cap his career at home, Ochoa has built a career that would be difficult for any Mexican soccer player to replicate.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Barr notes that the share of large banks rated as well-managed under the new, more permissive framework doubled from the end of 2024 to recent observations — not because banks got better, but because the grading curve was relaxed.
    Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
  • Kody Clemens and Josh Bell doubled in consecutive at-bats and Orlando Arcia dropped a single in front of Caglianone in right field.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • According to data from research firm Alpine Macro, Indian stocks are currently trading at 21 times forward earnings, similar to Taiwan, while South Korean equities are trading at nine times forward earnings.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 June 2026
  • This presumably means ground operations, which could result in considerable American casualties, or infrastructure strikes, which could lead Iran to retaliate against similar targets in the Gulf.
    Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • In Nigerian churches, fans hoisted aloft replica trophies at thanksgiving prayer services.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 29 May 2026
  • Officers detained many of the people in the fight after chasing them down and later found the replica Glock gun, police said.
    Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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