equal 1 of 3

adjective

ˈē-kwəl How to pronounce equal (audio)
Definition of equalnext
1
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
2
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
3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in composed
free from emotional or mental agitation he proceeded, in an equal tone, to recount the terrible events of the day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

equal

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to match
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) no one has equaled Shakespeare's plays

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
3
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

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

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

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 equal
Adjective
However, not all patients are at equal risk of physical harm from this type of care — health systems need to protect those most vulnerable patients. —Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026 At four stories high and with 80 arched entrances, the amphitheater could seat 50,000 or more people, equal to a modern stadium. —Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
Yet given the power differential between China and Canada—or, for that matter, between China and any NATO ally other than the United States—such a partnership will not be among equals. —Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026 In the courtroom, Waldman has few equals. —William Jones, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
We were all equals at that point. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026 Limited supply plus high costs equals very expensive tickets. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equal
  1. equitable
  2. identical
  3. suitable
  4. composed
  5. equivalent
  6. match
  7. mean
  8. parallel
Adjective
  • The organization, which is also partnered with The Fear of 13, endeavors to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Surprisingly, firing a slew of hard-working people in order to flatter the bottom line didn’t make for a happier workplace — or for more equitable business practices (a trio of strikes popped off in February of 2025, two of which lasted for 58 days).
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of equitable
Adjective
  • Most of the candidates’ pledges, such as tackling unaffordability, reducing gas prices, increasing capacity in state prisons, protecting gun owners’ rights and keeping trans athletes out of girls’ locker rooms, are nearly identical.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • His numbers are nearly identical to last year’s campaign and Oklahoma City has the best record in basketball.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of identical
Adjective
  • In the world of higher ed, there’s long been an insistence that college is for everyone, but this has resulted in many graduates unable to find suitable jobs; the employment prospects of English majors—or even computer-science grads—are looking increasingly grim.
    — Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Shoppers note that the fabric is soft to the touch and the ideal weight for spring and summer when used by itself, or suitable for year-round use in milder climates.
    — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • McIlroy overcame some early inconsistency to put together a composed round, while Burns leaned on excellent ball-striking to match him at the top.
    — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of composed
Noun
  • Turns out, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is basically the floor-cleaning equivalent of a secret service agent.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
  • On April 8, Idaho’s snow-water equivalent — that is, the amount of water contained in its snowpack — was the lowest ever seen on that date, effectively resetting the state’s scale.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Verb
  • Thankfully, matching lounge sets are the perfect solution to this universal dilemma, and right now, Amazon just marked down fresh styles for spring—with savings up to 37 percent off.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of match
Verb
  • That means that all of the Navy ships currently in the Middle East can play a role in enforcing a blockade.
    — Luis Martinez, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The warning means residents should avoid burning due to strong winds and low humidity levels.
    — Joseph Dames, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of mean
Verb
  • In the nineteen-seventies, Franciscan University, a small school on a hill above the downtown, became a center for charismatic Catholicism, an expressive, theologically orthodox movement that paralleled the development of the evangelical Jesus People and secular hippie culture.
    — Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The seed for this plotline parallels Ashley’s own concerns about childbearing in light of her cyst.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of parallel

Browse Nearby Words

equable
equal
equaled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equal. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on equal

Nglish: Translation of equal for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nugatory

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Apr. 17

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

The Longest Long Words List

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
union jack speech bubble
The Great British Vocabulary Quiz Make sure you know the difference between a loo a...
See All