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
Customer records from the two legacy systems were never fully reconciled—some accounts carry duplicate IDs, others have mismatched address and usage histories. — Olufunsho Peters, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Finally, under Performance, the photo cleaner offered to free up storage space by deleting duplicate photos and photos that, while not exact duplicates, are very similar. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
An absentee ballot will not be sent if the voter's application is a duplicate or has errors, the Secretary of State says. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 23 Sep. 2026 The list of candidates for the top prize duplicates last year’s roster of EOTY nominees, with the exception of Langley taking the spot that went to Morgan Wallen in 2024. — Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
The task force did say those numbers could be skewed due to duplicate reports. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 The country plans to expand LNG capacity from 77 million tons per year to 142 million by 2030, and duplicating that infrastructure isn’t feasible. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • The film, based on Josh Malerman‘s 2024 novel Incidents Around the House, follows a family whose house is haunted by a sinister entity that looks and sounds identical to the mother, with both versions played by the star.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This cartography of development is now helping researchers understand how identical cells in the early embryo develop into the distinct tissues and cell types of a complex organism.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The image is then precision-fabricated into a 3D model that’s finished by hand — all for $2,200, about the national average of an actual wedding gown.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This sort of puzzling connection between text and image is repeated throughout the exhibition.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cyberpunk 2077, which has sold more than 40 million copies, is an open-world action-adventure set in Night City, a megalopolis driven by power, glamour and body modification.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Now, with over 400 million copies sold, the series has been widely adapted into TV shows and films, including one starring actor Jack Black.
    — Kat Tran October 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Made using flexible materials, the model reproduced important features of the natural stinger’s pumping cycle, helping confirm how the valves deform and squeeze past each other.
    — Mike McRae October 12, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That would reproduce the operating model companies are trying to improve.
    — Jason Wojahn, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The tailoring brand was founded in Osaka in 1954 and got its start replicating Ivy League style.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The crisp exterior and savory undertone are hard to replicate with vegetable oil, and anyone who tries a side-by-side notices immediately.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • And Canary Wharf has more than doubled the number of retailers, restaurants, bars, and cafes since the pandemic.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The ambition is to double the footprint globally in the medium term.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There is also a T-shirt, tank top and denim cap, each sporting similar artwork.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But a key rationale for eligibility rules is to establish bright-line, predictable rules that should promote fair play and competition, with colleges, coaches and athletes treated similarly in similar situations.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Fitting that there are dinosaur replicas towering over the lobby that leads straight through the building.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Moreau made a tool to measure the depth and heights of the wards, to make a replica of what the original key probably looked like.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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