EQUAL Synonyms: 297 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'equal' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of equal are equivalent , identical , same , selfsame , and very . While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality. // equal shares in the business

Q: When might 'equivalent' be a better fit than 'equal'?

In some situations, the words equivalent and equal are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance. // two houses equivalent in market value

Q: When is 'identical' a more appropriate choice than 'equal'?

The synonyms identical and equal are sometimes interchangeable, but identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details. // identical results

Q: How are the words 'same' and 'selfsame' related as synonyms of 'equal'?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things. // took the same route // derived from the selfsame source

Q: How does the word 'very' relate to other synonyms for 'equal'?

Very , like selfsame , may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind. // the very point I was trying to make

equal 1 of 3

adjective

ˈē-kwəl

Definition of equal next

as in equitable

marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias the basic belief that everyone is entitled to equal opportunity in employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in identical

resembling another in every respect as far as I can see, except for the high price, the store-brand jacket is equal to the jacket with the designer label

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in suitable

having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance looking for someone equal to the challenge of running a large state university

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in composed

free from emotional or mental agitation he proceeded, in an equal tone, to recount the terrible events of the day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

equal

2 of 3

noun

as in equivalent

one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value a basketball player who truly has no equal in his sport

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equal

3 of 3

verb

as in to match

to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) no one has equaled Shakespeare's plays

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as in to mean

to be the same in meaning or effect being confined to home for a whole weekend would equal a death sentence in the minds of a lot of teens

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to parallel

to be the exact counterpart of in the British system a public school equals an American prep school

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word equal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of equal are equivalent, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When might equivalent be a better fit than equal?

In some situations, the words equivalent and equal are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When is identical a more appropriate choice than equal?

The synonyms identical and equal are sometimes interchangeable, but identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How are the words same and selfsame related as synonyms of equal?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route

derived from the selfsame source

How does the word very relate to other synonyms for equal?

Very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

Examples of equal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Barclays trimmed its PepsiCo price target by $1 per share to $186 but kept its equal weight hold rating. —

Jeff Marks, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024 However, not all protein shakes are created equal, and their ingredients can significantly impact the overall health benefits. —

Lindsey Desoto, Rd, Ld, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2024

Noun

But participation isn’t worth much unless people can participate as equals. —

Binyamin Appelbaum, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021 Moss should be more effective than most and could be the equal of Washington’s Will Rogers, Penn State’s Drew Allar and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, although not Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard. —

Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 29 July 2024

Verb

Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. —

Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2024 Gianluigi Donnarumma errors help Arsenal to important victory over Paris Saint-Germain Pep Guardiola’s side has now won 17 times and drawn eight games to equal the record set by local rival Manchester United in May 2009. —

Ben Church, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for equal

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'equal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.