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
Failure to submit a complete W-9 or equivalent will result in forfeiture of the Prize. AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026 Unrolling in eight, bite-sized episodes, Jonas’ first foray into show-running, put simply, is the TV equivalent of a page-turner, complete with an alluring cast who knows how to hold an audience’s interest. Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Lamarche and UConn goalie Tia Chan are among 10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, the women’s hockey equivalent to the Heisman Trophy. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026 The elevation gain from Chamonix to the summit of Mont Blanc is equivalent to that from Everest Base Camp to the summit of Mount Everest. Sergei Poljak, Outside, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • International co-production will be addressed through the Producers Connect platform which aims to match local producers with their counterparts overseas.
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
  • First and second graders continue to perform worse than their pre-pandemic counterparts on math and reading tests, according to a report published Tuesday by the education assessment and research group NWEA.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The office has long handled discrimination cases in areas like housing and employment, but students don’t have a comparable option to file complaints.
    Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Already, in head-to-head diagnostic comparisons, generative AI performs at levels comparable to human clinicians.
    Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • How to play Mega Millions Player can pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers — five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Mall).
    Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026
  • While pleased to see the digital reconstruction, Martin said the geological age of the fossil remains unclear since different techniques have arrived at varied dates.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Kushnir said the decision ultimately depends on the government and Zelensky, but the company wants to help partners and could be ready to do so within days.
    Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Hezbollah, Iran’s longtime partner, opened a second front with Israel from Lebanon.
    Robin Wright, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Perhaps the most analogous example among automotive marques is Porsche, the first automobile of which emerged in 1948 from an Austrian barn and, within 15 years, transformed into what has become the most collectible sports car in the world.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Such buying and selling is analogous to feeding more or less gas to a car.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Boise State would hang around for the final two-minute period, which stretched to about 30 minutes of actual time, as both teams repeatedly sent each other to the free-throw line and called timeouts.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2026
  • There also have been several deaths in other Gulf countries.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The single unit power, energy storage capacity and conversion efficiency of this project rank first globally among similar salt cavern CAES power plants, according to the company.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The international tournament returns Wednesday, with 20 teams competing in a format similar to the FIFA World Cup, with a group stage starting in Asia, followed by knockout rounds and the championship game at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Rubel then made a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee to give lawmakers time to discuss it.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Dropped on the wrong side of the street by the substitute bus driver, Lens was crossing in front of the bus towards his house when he was fatally struck.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 4 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 Mar. 2026.

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