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 Apart from the sensor, the GR IV Monochrome is nearly identical to the standard GR IV. Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026 There’s a very expensive brand (that celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence love) that sells a nearly identical pair of these flip-flops for over $700. Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 31 July 2026 Zeuner also said he’s seen LLMs make simple mistakes, such as ChatGPT telling a client that two ETFs in his portfolio appeared to be identical. Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 30 July 2026 An electronics forensics expert observed that the circuit board was almost identical to one Libya had used in a prior terrorist bombing, according to the CIA. Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for identical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identical
Adjective
  • That same day in West Valley City, Utah, Immigration Judge Brock Taylor was assigned 159 cases.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This same type of bias can show up in how leaders assess their own capacity.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Conditions at similar holding rooms in San Francisco were challenged in a recent lawsuit, and the agency was ordered by a federal judge to improve conditions and reduce the length of time that people were kept there.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • Program advances from concept to flight testing Operating the aircraft from multiple locations was another key objective, requiring crews to adapt to changing conditions similar to those expected in contested environments.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • In an exchange relationship, benefits are given with the expectation of comparable repayment; in a communal one, they’re given in response to need, on the assumption that care flows both ways over time.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Experts point out that there are no known examples of this sort of clothing in comparable sculptures from Anatolia or mainland Greece, so the garb reflects a local tradition distinct to the ancient kingdom of Lydia.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Fulton sees it as analogous to the insight embedded in a Visa network but reaching deeper into people's financial lives.
    Peter High, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The companies describe the technology as analogous to Global Entry for international travelers, in that pre-verified goods move through compliance checks faster because customs isn’t starting a full risk review every time.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • Venezuela now faces a multi-year recovery following the twin quakes which have left whole regions of the country devastated and caused an economic hit equivalent to 6% of the country’s GDP, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
    Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The country has set a 10 million metric ton (11,023,113 ton) carbon dioxide equivalent budget for international carbon market transactions up to 2030.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Identical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identical. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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