Definition of duplicatenext
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
The account connection helps verify that votes are coming from individual supporters and reduces the use of fake or duplicate accounts. Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Some had duplicate forms for children, as well as forms for children who hadn’t been born yet. Brenna Witchey, Oklahoma Watch, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
While the original 29 code talkers who created the unbreakable code received Congressional Gold Medals, subsequent Code Talker graduates received the silver duplicate. Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2026 But, in the event of a glitch, transporter rooms effectively become highly sophisticated 3D printers, creating duplicates indistinguishable from the original beamee. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Bears will attempt to duplicate the defensive production that thrived on takeaways. Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Brandon Baker won season 6 of Netflix’s The Circle and will now try to duplicate that success here on 99 to Beat. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • Instead, two coaches making almost identical money were standing on opposite sidelines Saturday night trying to revive two programs with almost identical problems.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The standing-room-only meeting was full of people wearing identical caps.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Some are painted with a stuttering distortion, like a computer image that’s failed to fully download.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In particular, the image of the sickly, slumbering child recurs throughout Marcon’s work.
    Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • However, the Daily Mail reported that on Monday a truck carrying copies was travelling between a printing plant and a warehouse in the Netherlands when it was intercepted while parked in a lay-by, with four copies of the book mysteriously stolen.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Apparently, the king was not given an advance copy, but Prince Harry did receive one weeks ago.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • That copying, by providing a way to reproduce and evolve, could have then kicked off the beginning of life.
    Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
  • To prove their point, Forte and Otoleva attempted to reproduce the aural and visual conditions of the tombs in their day.
    Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Throughout the novel, outsiders suggest that hagwons might replicate preexisting social inequalities.
    Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Next, the researchers plan to do broader studies that can track exposure throughout pregnancy and examine whether the associations can be replicated across different populations.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Yet at an event on Thursday, Huang displayed unwavering confidence, projecting that Nvidia's chip sales will double next year as nations and corporations continue scaling up AI investments.
    , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This spring, a second ship, AmaMelodia, is formally christened, doubling capacity on a route between Cartagena and Barranquilla through jazz towns, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and some of the richest bird-watching corridors on the continent.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Its board was drawn from the same captains of industry—bankers, retailers, insurance men—who would have occupied such positions in any similar synagogue.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Simons and the Italian designer share a similar aesthetic hinged on modernism and occasionally futurism and even provocation.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The museum learned about the model after a video shared by Macken’s daughter featuring the replica went viral, prompting staff to reach out.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers will also create a 3-D scan of the tooth, which will be used to produce a replica.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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