duplicate 1 of 3

duplicate

2 of 3

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
In the museum exhibit, a duplicate bronze panel is installed on a wall within easy reach of children as well as adults. Robert Taylor, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025 Those with temporary immigration status will pay a $30 one-time fee in addition to a duplicate product fee, currently $30.50, or the applicable renewal fee based on immigration status. Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, because of a mixup, Mickey 18 emerges from the copier before Mickey 17 has actually expired; in the copying process, duplicates are forbidden. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 According to the lawsuit, ECE International is reconciling the claims, including identifying duplicate and unsupported claims. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
From unlabeled items and duplicate products to expired foods and general chaos, pantry mistakes can lead to a host of problems, including food waste and unnecessary spending. Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2025 Additionally, when the same video is sent simultaneously to multiple users, duplicate data traveling over the same internet links wastes bandwidth and further congests the network. Chetan Jaiswal, The Conversation, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • The creator replaced it with a nearly identical bronze statue shortly after, but moved its location to private property nearby and attached it to concrete and metal rods.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2025
  • Hippler filed a separate, nearly identical order specific to the defense.
    Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • To backtrack: Sepideh Farsi was compelled by the images coming out of Gaza to travel there.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
  • Miami Cancer Institute’s Skin Cancer Clinic can do a whole-body scan with the Vectra 3D, a machine that takes detailed images and creates a body map to allow experts to study and monitor lesions and other skin abnormalities and accurately assess changes over time.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Inside, authorities allegedly found more debit cards with numerous names on them, copies of multiple driver’s licenses, bank documents and more than a dozen cell phones, state police wrote.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
  • Harvard announced Thursday that two British researchers discovered the school’s copy is one of the authentic versions of the legal document created in 1300.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • As natural landscapes are converted to agriculture or taken over by urban sprawl, logging operations and oil and gas exploration, ecosystems become fragmented and the space that species need to survive and reproduce disappears.
    Karrigan Börk, The Conversation, 13 May 2025
  • This material is not to be reproduced or redistributed absent the written consent of Fairlead Strategies.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Elias’ main strategy has been to replicate the success of his former team, the Houston Astros, who reached the AL Championship seven straight years from 2017-2023 while winning two World Series.
    Paul Bledsoe, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025
  • Not looking to replicate what is already out there, the foundation aims to build something new and to allow creativity to guide the board members.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • San Diego sits in third in the Western Conference and has doubled Sporting KC’s point total (12 — 3-8-3 record) through 14 games played so far.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2025
  • And the common belief is that even after California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled plans last year to double the state’s cap for the film and TV tax incentive from $330 million to $750 million a year, this bucket will be quickly depleted.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Gleason score is created through something similar to a point system.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • Spencer Platt/Getty Images Schumer said the Coast Guard has a system called vehicle traffic service, or VTS, that's similar to how the FAA handles air traffic control.
    Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • In a 2021 presentation for the American Musical Instrument Society, Knight introduces replicas of Gray’s devices and gives a demonstration.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 May 2025
  • Tom Young, a member of the Lansing Historical Society, led the team of Paul Lamborn, John Craig, and Randy Elliott, who quickly built the replica over a couple of days.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 26 May. 2025.

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