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

Relevance

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
Adjective
This provides an opportunity to maintain giving behavior by asking for the first year’s cash equivalent and waiting with the pledge until the subsequent year. Josh Birkholz, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Anyone who already subscribes to ESPN+ will automatically get subscribed to the equivalent Select plan once the new app launches. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 May 2025 The beloved release also improves on the Billboard 200, moving up five places to settle at No. 59, thanks to nearly 15,000 equivalent units moved. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025 The neighboring Port of Long Beach moved 9.6 million 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, last year. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
Noun
  • At the same time, their moderate counterparts desire greater tax relief for those states with higher state and local tax systems and more generous assurances for Medicaid coverage.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 May 2025
  • The union says its members want parity with their counterparts who work for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
    Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Overall, Nexstar’s distribution sales for the first quarter of 2025 were $762 million for the quarter, nearly flat with the comparable year-ago period.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 8 May 2025
  • One that’s more demonstrable in the industry than other comparable examples of societal laziness.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • The exact genetic fix will be different for each person, but the approach is very repeatable, said Marks, who has since left the FDA.
    Karen Weintraub, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Theme park Silver Dollar City is consistently rated as one of the top amusement parks in the country by USA Today, and 2025’s rankings are no different.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The work of flattening out three-dimensional sculpture into a two-dimensional painting was analogous to intellectualizing and abstracting Blackness as media became more mobile in the early twentieth century.
    Delinda Collier, Artforum, 1 May 2025
  • Together, these provide a wealth of data that any neuroscientist would envy — analogous to a perfect map of a person’s brain, along with separate electrodes to monitor the activity of each neuron.
    Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Because the fire is in a residential area, fighting the fire has strained the immediate water grid, Wallace said, leading the department to bring in water from other, larger water mains.
    Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2025
  • Court records show three of the burglary charges are from Seminole County and the two other burglary charges, along with the petit theft charge, are from a Volusia County warrant.
    Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Gleason score is created through something similar to a point system.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • The Embraer designers envisioned a color scheme that was remarkably similar to Ryann’s, but pushed it one step farther with a carpet that became the cabin’s signature feature.
    Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • More news: Former Red Sox Pitcher's Cause of Death Revealed: Report In a corresponding move, the Dodgers cut ties with Barnes, who had been in the organization since Dec. 2014.
    Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • This represents a significant 36% year-over-year increase in sales, driven by a corresponding 36% rise in gross merchandise volume (GMV) to $8.6 billion.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Consumer sentiments are clearly negative, arguably driven by the belief that the same topics will be explored by alternative, free-to-read platforms.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • From navigating traditional lending hurdles to exploring alternative financing options, access to capital remains critical for success.
    Joseph Lustberg, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on equivalent

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!