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
Because duplicate or altered titles can slip through. Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026 Being saddled with inadequate accounting software leads to incomplete data, reporting errors, compliance issues, duplicate records, and, eventually, the headache of moving to an entirely new platform. Dana Miranda, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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 Other names are probably duplicates, the government says, while some people may have gone off the grid voluntarily for personal reasons. Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
If Shane van Gisbergen duplicates his amazing run last Sunday on the road course at Watkins Glen, the June 21 Anduril 250 at Navy Base Coronado might be remembered as one of those great events. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 These experiments successfully duplicated the same geometry and abrasion observed in the ancient tooth, bolstering the researchers' conclusions. Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • Researchers have searched for repeating structures within it, such as identical circular arrangements that would indicate a compact universe.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026
  • The Rooms While no two rooms are identical, there are consistent design features and a compelling musical theme throughout.
    Lindsey Tramuta, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 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
  • Cloud platforms provide services from microtasks like data labelling to freelance design and copy-editing.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • In the row behind him was Jameson’s favorite masked menace, reading a copy of the Daily Bugle.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • The models specifically reproduced how said particles would interact with the expanding shell of material shrugged off by the supernova's dying progenitor star.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 May 2026
  • This article originally appeared in Spektrum der Wissenschaft and was reproduced with permission.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • States seeking to grow in people and wealth would be well-served by replicating parts of Florida’s tax approach.
    Nicole Huyer, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
  • Wemby and the sky hook The greatest shot creation in NBA history was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook, which few centers have been able to replicate, much less master.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • In the first half of 2025 alone, utilities requested more than $29 billion in rate hikes, double the prior year, affecting over 40 million customers nationwide.
    Iulia Lupse, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026
  • Kelenic doubled and scored on a single by Drew Romo.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Adjective
  • This veto aligns with Polis’ veto of a similar bill last year that featured a 48-hour warrant compliance requirement and stricter self-policing by the platforms.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • My yoga jacket looks just like this one, with a similar standup collar and zipper pockets.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 May 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 31 May. 2026.

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