Definition of identicalnext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of identical are equal, equivalent, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

In what contexts can equal take the place of identical?

In some situations, the words equal and identical are roughly equivalent. However, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When is equivalent a more appropriate choice than identical?

The synonyms equivalent and identical are sometimes interchangeable, but equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

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

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 identical?

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 identical Morris served as Falcons head coach for two seasons, finishing with an identical 8-9 record in both campaigns. Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026 Zoe tapped into a near-identical outfit formula for an afternoon strolling around Aspen on Wednesday. Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 3 Jan. 2026 Some ads are designed to look almost identical to legitimate links. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026 To ease into a push-up, your setup will look almost identical to that of a high plank. Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for identical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identical
Adjective
  • Anyone who purchases a rodeo ticket also gains same-day access to the Stock Show grounds.
    Brayden Garcia January 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Head to that same site to peruse our full calendar of events.
    Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The indictment, which was filed on Wednesday and unsealed Sunday, comes on the heels of a series of similar indictments involving Portland Trail Blazers head coach and basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA journeyman Damon Jones.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • There was a similar outcry after Celine Song's Materialists, which (spoiler) ends with Chris Evans proposing with a daisy ring.
    Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • After an office romance begins, employee retention at the organization drops by six percentage points, meaning turnover is 14% greater than in comparable firms.
    Emily Nix, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Putting aside the visceral appeal of the reference to insider trading, are these allegations actually comparable to criminal insider trading in the securities regime?
    Samidh Guha, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The story positions the protagonist’s work as analogous to nurturing a child.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The international sphere faces analogous pressures.
    Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The amount produced by this observed event is, therefore, equivalent to turning the entire mass of the Sun into pure energy (E = mc²).
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • That is equivalent to about $108.
    Daniel Gonzalez, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Identical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identical. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on identical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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