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 That’s because the fees the affiliate pays go into its parent’s coffers, whereas identical fees charged to third-party participants could be debilitating. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Well, the Yankees ran back largely the same exact team and got a nearly identical result, leaving Rodriguez and Derek Jeter in shambles. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Its terms were nearly identical to the deal that was on the verge of being approved the previous summer. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Kloss’ nearly identical outfit included a white poncho top, nude heels, and black sunglasses for contrast. — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for identical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identical
Adjective
  • Recent polls show Raman leading Bass by a few points, but those same polls show almost a third of voters are still undecided.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • That same fall, Lane Kiffin walked out on an 11-1 Ole Miss team weeks before its first playoff game, lured to LSU by a war chest the Rebels couldn’t match.
    — Chris Park, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There is also a T-shirt, tank top and denim cap, each sporting similar artwork.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But a key rationale for eligibility rules is to establish bright-line, predictable rules that should promote fair play and competition, with colleges, coaches and athletes treated similarly in similar situations.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The man at the centre of the story eventually represents a level of power comparable to that of the state.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Except for the shift in timing and this year’s sale lasting one day longer, the sale itself was comparable year-over-year.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Bayzo's pub is analogous to an English tavern, with creamy cups of clam chowder and a piano likely to launch you into Elton John renditions.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But the less strictly technical procedure Serra describes is analogous to operations at stake in Jonas’s own work, implying that the act of measurement by walking and seeing is tacitly existential.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • During the first week of this month, the spread between 10 year Italian government bonds and equivalent German Bunds approached 130 basis points, marking its largest weekly expansion since the pandemic.
    — , CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Detroit legend’s last album came out in July 2024 with The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which topped the Billboard 200, earning 281,000 total album-equivalent units, according to Luminate.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Identical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identical. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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