as in similar
having qualities in common
parallel lives of two friends who first met in college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in similarity
a point which two or more things share in common
her professor pointed out some parallels between the two novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in equivalent
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
an advance that is without parallel in the history of virology
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to match
to be the exact counterpart of
developments in the television show paralleled those in the lead actor's real life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of parallel
Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
To that end, the potato chips fried in beef tallow (the only side option) have a parallel greasiness and didn’t much appeal.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Punta Arenas, the largest city in the world below the 46th parallel, actually maintains a moderate temperature thanks to its proximity to the ocean.
—Josh Lew, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Still, California van moves often parallel domestic migration patterns.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for parallel
Adjective
The earthy green creates a grounding effect, especially when parallel with the floor, so that your bed becomes something of a lily pad.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
To that end, the potato chips fried in beef tallow (the only side option) have a parallel greasiness and didn’t much appeal.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
Software that used to require teams of specialists can now be built by AI systems that work in parallel, handling research, design, engineering and deployment simultaneously.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Punta Arenas, the largest city in the world below the 46th parallel, actually maintains a moderate temperature thanks to its proximity to the ocean.
—Josh Lew, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
How did your journey parallel your character’s?
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Still, California van moves often parallel domestic migration patterns.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for parallel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parallel
Adjective
-
The housing nonprofit completed a similar project, the 71-unit Casa Paloma, less than a block away in 2022, and has apartment complexes under development in Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
-
If Maye protects the ball better in Denver, similar results should follow.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Interestingly, another basin recently discovered in Gabii showed structural similarities, leading archaeologists to hypothesize that these pools may have served a sacred purpose.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But despite surface-level similarities, the 2026 system is not expected to match the 2021 storm in strength or staying power, experts say.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For comparison, that’s the equivalent of Pakistan’s electricity demand.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Attorney Yates points out that the amount of DNA on Debe's coat that the lab had said could be consistent with Bob Atrops was miniscule—the equivalent of about six skin cells.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even when companies build a solution that matches customer needs, convincing customers to pay is far from automatic.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Indeed, this language of growth matches how the builders of these systems describe the process.—
Tharin Pillay,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cash App This app is analogous to Venmo.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
-
This would be analogous to having one arm tied behind your back.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
David Leach, the head of security, noted that a training program offered by the utility for technician jobs bears resemblances to Oakland’s cadet initiative.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The company also needed to align the RAV4 with its sharp new design language; its resemblance to the Grand Highlander, the 4Runner and even stalwarts like the the Land Cruiser is now much more clear.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Like her Georgian counterpart, Liz Bennet in 2013 enjoys being out in the fresh air, and her long runs offer both an opportunity to encounter Mr Darcy (here a brain surgeon from San Francisco) and showcase the local sites, including the famed Skyline Chili.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
And in some countries, Paralympic gold medalists earn a mere 1% of what their Olympic counterparts make, in some cases taking home less than their nation’s Olympic silver medalists.—
Liz Elting,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In a comparable case in the United States in 2023, a federal judge imposed $5,000 fines on two lawyers and a law firm after ChatGPT was blamed for their submission of fictitious legal research in an aviation injury claim.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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At the center of this movement is OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, whose generative AI models represent a general-purpose capability—comparable to the steam engine or electric motor—that can amplify nearly every form of knowledge work.—
Phil Kafarakis,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parallel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parallel. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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