equivalent 1 of 2

Definition of equivalentnext
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

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
SpaceX, privately funded and operated by the real world’s closest equivalent of Marvel’s Tony Stark, has developed a reputation for putting on a stunning show with every launch. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026 Alesi said royalties could generate roughly $19 million a month for Oiapoque, about the equivalent of the city’s total goods and services produced each year, according to Brazil’s statistics institute. Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
That means crew's trip is equivalent to nearly 28 trips around the Earth's surface. Tom Costello, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026 The Financial Times reported this week that Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran's energy exports union, said the country would look to impose a tariff equivalent to $1 per barrel. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • Following in Pauli’s footsteps, scientists involved in the effort carefully tabulate the electrons’ energies to make stringent measurements of any excess energy that went into making the counterpart neutrinos.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The resulting dough has a hearty texture, crispy chunks, and a deeper, more savory flavor than its counterparts.
    Anais Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Why is a woman artist selling for one price when a comparable male artist is at a completely different level?
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Other candidates The rest of the field, for the most part, does not appear to have secured as many high-profile endorsements or raised comparable campaign funding.
    Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But his music was quite different from the pieces that Paolo introduced me to over the next year, all of which were written in the mid-eighteenth century.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • But this year is a different story.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Jones now partners with Kayte Christensen, the team’s current color commentator.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Our expert take The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
    Liz Knueven,Ryley Amond, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • These are not real feelings, Anthropic’s researchers emphasized, but patterns in the model’s neural activations that guide its responses, shaping decisions, preferences, and outputs in ways loosely analogous to human emotions.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Compared to last year, arrests were down 14% citywide over an analogous 30-day spring break period, according to Miami Beach police.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.
    Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Earlier in the season Schumaker talked about the importance of a well-rounded team to win and while Eovaldi and deGrom struggled in their first three starts other members from the starting rotation stepped up with MacKenzie Gore, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter all shining.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Wing is a subsidiary of Alphabet that has similar partnerships with Walmart and Wendy’s.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Planet Labs is among a variety of companies that provide satellite imaging services, and some of the others may be making similar decisions.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Not sure the substitute teaching stipends could match that.
    Jay Paris, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
  • On April 28, 2025, Charles was a substitute bus driver transporting 5-year-old Lens from Up Academy in Dorchester to his Hyde Park home, along with his 11-year-old cousin and a school bus full of kids.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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