equivalent 1 of 2

as in counterpart
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value that huge mansion at the end of the street is the equivalent of five ordinary houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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equivalent

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of equivalent are equal, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When would equal be a good substitute for equivalent?

While in some cases nearly identical to equivalent, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Where would identical be a reasonable alternative to equivalent?

Although the words identical and equivalent have much in common, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

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

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 equivalent?

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 equivalent
Noun
Breakthrough won the two-year grant last year – equivalent to about 25% of its $1.2 million annual budget – but had yet to spend much of it. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 One cup of frozen watermelon cubes is equivalent to 1 ounce watermelon juice, which is what Witherspoon calls for in the recipe. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2025 By 2030, data centers that power AI are projected to consume a whopping 612 terawatt-hours of energy per year – equivalent to what Canada consumes annually, according to research from Accenture. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 30 June 2025 BofA estimated the central banks’ gold holdings are now equivalent to just under 18% of outstanding U.S. public debt, up from 13% a decade ago. Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • All of this determines why Le Bernardin is expensive, but not as much as many others in New York, and considerably less than Parisian counterparts.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Certain types of roofing materials are designed to reflect more sunlight than their counterparts, leading to cooler interiors.
    Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Must-read: The FT has a lengthy feature on how climate change is causing a systemic crisis in the property insurance business on a scale comparable to the 2008 financial crisis.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 26 June 2025
  • In fact, this valuation is roughly comparable to that of its competitor SoFi, which was profitable last year and has demonstrated a quicker customer growth rate.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • While it’s sometimes compared to Pilates, the two methods are very different.
    Amy Wilkinson, SELF, 1 July 2025
  • The reality of franchising can be - and in the vast majority of cases, is - very different indeed.
    Fiona Simpson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Lawsuits challenging Trump administration cuts in grant funding by other agencies, such as the Department Health and Human Services, have made analogous arguments.
    Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Mycelium is analogous to the roots of a plant (although mushrooms are fungi, not plants).
    Skye Chilton, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • Owen shares other stories, including personal accounts of people who have passed away, to remember them and raise awareness about their deaths.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 29 June 2025
  • The attacks on law firms and lawyers, even as Chicago’s own Jenner & Block bravely resists, has nonetheless led to other firms with major offices in our city simply capitulating out of avarice or cowardice.
    Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • From superhero hits like The Umbrella Academy to shows about a group of kids taking on monsters like Goosebumps, here are 15 shows similar to Stranger Things.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 6 July 2025
  • America has previously seized Iraqi and Afghan funds for similar reasons.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • This ensures that for every stablecoin token issued, there is a corresponding dollar in safe, liquid assets.
    Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In the 1960s, Canada’s nationalists feared America’s power—its military strength, yes, but also its cultural cohesion—and wanted to form a corresponding Canadian identity.
    Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The 28-year-old trades her ethereal R&B sound for a lean into alternative female rage.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 1 July 2025
  • So far, the country's outbound shipments have held up relatively strong over the past two months, as exporters pivoted to alternative markets, notably Southeast Asian countries and European Union nations.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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