1
as in reproduction
something that is made to look exactly like something else
that old-looking colonial mansion is actually a 20th-century reduplication of the original, which was destroyed many years ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in repetition
the act of saying or doing over again
ever since I was forced to do a reduplication of a day's work, I've been more conscientious about hitting my computer's "save" button
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 reduplication
And yet…the rhyme schemes, the reduplication, the semantic shifts, the conversions, the deliberate grammatical oddities, and rich double entendres–Carpenter is, for some people, the greatest poet to have ever put pen to paper.
—
Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2024
TikTok is a compound word that’s called (take a deep breath) an ablaut-shift reduplication because only the internal vowel changes.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
The collection, dubbed with another fun reduplication, Bon Bon, was inspired by the packaging for the Apple AirPods.
—Leilani Marie Labong, SFChronicle.com, 26 June 2018
Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2024
TikTok is a compound word that’s called (take a deep breath) an ablaut-shift reduplication because only the internal vowel changes.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
The collection, dubbed with another fun reduplication, Bon Bon, was inspired by the packaging for the Apple AirPods.
—Leilani Marie Labong, SFChronicle.com, 26 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reduplication
Noun
-
The images captured by bystanders and immigration agents were reminiscent of the lynching postcards that white spectators once bought and traded — reproductions of retributive violence, tailor-made to titillate and intimidate.—
Tressie McMillan Cottom,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
And human reproduction in space, along with genetic challenges, is a complete unknown.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Through repetition, Dinand does not dilute meaning.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Power is exercised openly, justified retrospectively, and normalized through repetition.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The inspector general's office confirmed that some lawmakers and their staff were allowed to read copies of the complaint on Monday.—
DAVID KLEPPER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Driving home from school, my dad would give me change to go to the convenience store and buy a print copy of the Post.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Six of those arrested face felony charges under Proposition 36, which allows for enhanced penalties for repeat retail theft offenses.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This repeat search of the property was continuing late into the evening.—
Kathy Tulumello,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On Robbie’s left wrist was a replica of a bracelet Charlotte Brontë had made after Emily and Anne died.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The replica of the ARM is an electronic chip board during a collaborative ceremony launching a partnership between Malaysia and ARM Holdings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 5, 2025.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Somewhere between folk art and statement home decor, this four-panel imitation of an impressionist oil painting says a thing or two about your knack for putting a room together.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But Baehren and Carvalho pointed out that these behaviors, which took place rarely and in captivity, might only be imitations of human communication.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reduplication.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reduplication. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
