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
The message then claims $8,250 has already disappeared and warns that a duplicate $8,250 charge will be approved in 35 minutes. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The 56 designated as Tough Ones are all duplicates from one of the other two types. Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Variations in equipment and manufacturing processes, however, can make a successful prototype difficult to duplicate or scale. Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026 More than 30,000 new job postings are added every day, while existing listings are continuously validated to help remove expired and duplicate opportunities. William Jones, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • The Pauli exclusion principle prevents identical fermions from occupying the same quantum state.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The agents also allegedly impersonated a moderator on the wiki, using an identical Cyrillic е character in the admin's username instead of the Latin one.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The optical payload successfully demonstrated angles-only navigation using live-feed images and an algorithm embedded within its payload electronics, enabling closed-loop control between the payload and the spacecraft, as per the release.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But by halftime, the image escaped those few inches as the Pride of the Southland Band gave Parton’s most enduring symbol a much larger stage.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The subpoena sought hard drives, videos, forensic images, and other records related to the review by Cyber Ninjas, according to a copy obtained by Votebeat.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the paper was circulated across the company’s dealership network, with many dealers putting a copy of the Independent in the glove box of every new car.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • There are so many, because Venice has an atmosphere that is difficult to reproduce anywhere else.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Myers said these teacup animals usually come about through reproductive technology and selective breeding, where people repeatedly breed the smallest animals, then use the smallest offspring to reproduce.
    Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • They are not intended to represent normal use and should not be attempted or replicated.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Russia’s attempt to replicate SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network seems to be moving as slowly as the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The panels store within the roof rails when driving but expand at camp to deliver up to 600 watts of charging while doubling as an awning, saving space and weight as compared to separate awning and charging systems.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Shares in the Finnish telco hit an 18-year high in June after doubling on the year.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Newlight projects annual savings of roughly $500,000 for similar ships.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • German power infrastructure has previously been affected under similar circumstances.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Just then, the strains of a familiar song wafted across the store, and Valencia and Zegarra followed it, past a Lightning McQueen replica, to a tiny area where a half-dozen child-size chairs were arranged before a screen.
    Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Accompanied by some technology — radars, satellite phones and whatnot — and a volleyball replica of Wilson from Castaway, Tez spent weeks in the Pacific with pods of dolphins, friendly seagulls and his own thoughts.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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