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
  • Yes, Amazon Prime Day deals are comparable to Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 8 July 2025
  • The price is comparable to competitors, plus the products are regularly on sale with free shipping and gifts.
    Stewart Savin, Architectural Digest, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Does this album feel different from other projects after achieving that sense of liberation?
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • Silver’s Dual Role as a Precious and Industrial Metal Silver’s story is a little different, but no less compelling.
    Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • The war between Russia and Ukraine is not perfectly analogous to contingencies that the United States may face in the future, and not every lesson in Ukraine is applicable to U.S. military planning, but this war is nonetheless full of instructive technological innovations and breakthroughs.
    JON FINER, Foreign Affairs, 7 July 2025
  • And the concho found fans across the world—especially among people who see its plight as analogous to their own, and who have latched on to it as a symbol of resilience.
    Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is one of the countless reasons the Secret Service prides ourselves on forging and maintaining relationships with other law enforcement agencies.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
  • But once those issues were resolved, random drop-in visits from Social Services workers over the next decade yielded no citations or other issues.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 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
  • Using too much detergent can also have a similar result, leaving behind a residue that causes stiff fibers and reduced absorbency.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • In a corresponding move, the Brewers designated right-handed relief pitcher Elvin Rodríguez for assignment.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
  • Compared to the corresponding week last year, however, the number of new unemployment claims has fallen only 3.5 percent.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Roads were closed in the area and police were asking folks to avoid Cataldi Park and find alternative routes.
    Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 14 July 2025
  • Although the film raked in over $44 million at the global box office, the need to bypass traditional studios reflects broader patterns where Black women must build alternative systems to access fair compensation.
    Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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