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
Instead of building new duplicate facilities, CapEx is being spent on modernizing existing hubs to handle multi-modal volume. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026 The Election Commission says the revision will remove duplicate entries, deceased voters and noncitizens. — Amrita Basu, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
The waiver gives the studio permission to create a duplicate of an actor in costume, which aids in VFX work during postproduction. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 The opposition says eligible voters were disenfranchised, while election officials say the purge removed duplicate and ineligible entries. — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
The company started scanning repositories for credentials, began alerting users that their credentials were exposed, and even set up default push protections to prevent affected repositories from being duplicated. — Alex Colon, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 This split would duplicate work, stifle innovation and amplify geopolitical tensions. — Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • The three teams had identical district records, split their head-to-head games and had the exact same point differential.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Cross-border investors rarely start with identical expectations.
    — Anas Bhairi, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Unlike conventional sonar approaches that rely on lower-resolution acoustic images, synthetic aperture sonar combines multiple acoustic measurements collected as the sensor moves through the water.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The image was manipulated by artificial intelligence and posted by a Colombian artist, according to Brazilian fact-checking outlet Agência Lupa.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • After Williams was announced among the cast of the show, copies of Sandler’s original Yaga play disappeared from book shelves and the Amazon digital retailer.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The second copy will be added to the American Library’s Special Collections.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Photography freed painters from the obligation to reproduce the visible world.
    — Ben Feder, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2026
  • But the actor eventually abandoned the idea of simply reproducing De Gaulle’s mannerisms.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • But then labs across the globe tried to replicate the experiment and couldn’t, and an almighty takedown ensued.
    — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Ipsos survey and several other polls — if replicated on voting day — indicate that most metropolitan municipalities would require coalition governments after the local elections.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The van offers 53 miles (85 km) of all-electric driving using the same lithium battery that doubles as the climate control power station, a range estimate VW tends to vary by a mile or two based on market and timing.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Her playlist doubles as a spiritual cleansing ritual, with Jhené Aiko providing affirmations and SZA reminding her that enlightenment won’t protect you from situationships.
    — Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • American officials told the Wall Street Journal that Washington had conducted similar attacks secretly in recent weeks.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Similarly, high-risk activities like mountain climbing, skydiving or something similar won't typically be covered (unless specific add-on coverage is included and paid for before traveling).
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Years later, while using a replica, Delciello spotted the 100-year-old original at a farmer’s market.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Its miniature replica captures the grandeur of the iconic flagship, offering collectors a piece of Manhattan holiday history without the Manhattan real estate prices.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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