parallel 1 of 3

parallel

2 of 3

noun

parallel

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective parallel contrast with its synonyms?

The words analogous and similar are common synonyms of parallel. While all three words mean "closely resembling each other," parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

When can analogous be used instead of parallel?

In some situations, the words analogous and parallel are roughly equivalent. However, analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

When would similar be a good substitute for parallel?

While the synonyms similar and parallel are close in meaning, similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

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 parallel
Adjective
Clasp the underside of your thighs with both hands, hinge back, and lift your feet until your lower legs are parallel to the floor. Health Editorial Team, Health, 28 Aug. 2025 The couple had been in the early years of their respective life journeys, and the supporting music takes a parallel trip, reflecting on the past with an upbeat attitude while changing with each section of the song. Tom Roland, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Eleanor Bumpurs’s granddaughter Shantel Bumpurs, who was not yet born when Eleanor was killed, spoke to a reporter about the parallels between Danner and her grandmother’s killings. Lashawn Harris august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025 Adam Sandler‘s joke in his SNL50 musical sketch about famous artists turning out to be antisemitic bigots struck a chord, thanks to its real-world parallels. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Erin is a Category 2 hurricane and is tracking north-northeast, away from the East Coast, but was still generally paralleling it Thursday. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025 The restaurant’s Japanese cuisine and Peruvian ingredients paralleled Freeman’s own mixed identity and the unexpected outcomes that arise when cultures collide. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parallel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parallel
Adjective
  • More Mark Thompson/Getty Images His teammate Yuki Tsunoda has also been struggling to adapt to the RB21, similar to the way Verstappen's past teammates faced challenges in getting used to the car.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Last week, Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning announced an even tinier version of the character, similar to the popular Sonny Angel figurines that hang off many-a-Gen Z’ers devices.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • But the similarities don’t stop with the building blocks.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • However, as the book took shape, a few similarities became apparent.
    Logan Karlie September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The seven winners of these remaining ties will progress to the 36-team Champions League proper, while the seven losers drop into the Europa League equivalent.
    Jack Bantock, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
  • The natural salts used in cloud seeding are the equivalent of adding table salt to the atmosphere, and scientists have found no effects from silver iodide on humans or the environment.
    Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Her glam was also subdued, with a faint pink eyeshadow that matched her nude blush and pink nude gloss.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • In terms of your pillowcases, skip the decorative shams and opt for a set that matches your sheets.
    Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Legally, the Fed is more analogous to the rest of the administrative state.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Some proponents of the safety agency said its specialized technical expertise is valuable, and allows for thorough, independent investigations of incidents ― analogous to the National Transportation Safety Board's investigations of plane crashes and train derailments, Flarsheim said.
    Ruby Grisin, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Kelce’s enchanting proposal spot also shared a striking resemblance to the visuals used for Swift’s 2019 album Lover, which showed the star posing in a lush garden.
    Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The switch bears a striking resemblance to a popular feature at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Zoo life can be a lux experience for these Arizonan species, but for their wild counterparts living in the Sonoran desert, there is no escape from the region’s extreme heat and extended drought.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Along with the Cannes Film Festival, Venice has soared in popularity and notoriety as their North American counterparts — most notably Toronto and Sundance — have struggled to remain relevant.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There were similar objections to the other sales that the IRS appraiser had counted as comparable.
    Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • This is tiny, but is still larger than typical interstellar grains and rather more comparable with the grains of dust found in star- and planet-forming regions.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Parallel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parallel. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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