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 Elle had 499 million minutes of watch time for Prime Video, identical to its premiere week. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026 Besides the focus dials, the Viture Pro 2 is otherwise nearly identical to the a01+ in terms of specifications. Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026 Similar testing by Rachel Dolfi at The Kitchn found nearly identical results. Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026 Mechanically, the special edition is identical to the standard Revuelto. New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for identical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identical
Adjective
  • BitOK puts the drop in median time from submission to freeze at 44% on Ethereum and 23% on Tron, and found a same-block urgent mode used in about one case in six.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Raquel’s battling that same thing of just not really knowing how, but wanting to be in her version of being a good mom.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Schore makes a similar distinction when discussing workplace anger.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The side pockets are great for water bottles and similar, while the front pocket and inner pocket securely hold your phone, wallet or other small items that could get lost in the bottom of your back.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Shields said that out-of-state tuition would be around $55,000, a figure comparable to programs at other schools in the region, such as Mississippi State University, Oklahoma State University and Louisiana State University.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Aug. 2026
  • SignalTrace uses a different method, and no independent study has shown comparable performance.
    Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • There is still a VAT, which is analogous to a 13% Flat Tax on individual and corporate income.
    Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Pictures of the Channel Islands in the 1980s, after an analogous period of protection from human and otter predation, show huge herds of black abalone, shell to shell, covering patches of the tidepool like floor tiling.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • The team’s calculations suggest that a 1% change in strain could produce an effect equivalent to changing the temperature by about 150 kelvin.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The tip is $21,000, approximately equivalent to Joy’s pinky nail.
    Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Identical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identical. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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