Synonym Chooser

How does the noun replica differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of replica are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

When would copy be a good substitute for replica?

The words copy and replica can be used in similar contexts, but copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When is duplicate a more appropriate choice than replica?

The synonyms duplicate and replica are sometimes interchangeable, but duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace replica?

While the synonyms facsimile and replica are close in meaning, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would reproduction be a reasonable alternative to replica?

In some situations, the words reproduction and replica are roughly equivalent. However, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 replica Also in the set, builders will put together a replica of Homer’s unforgettable clown car. Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 May 2025 The actress was wearing a replica of the original McQueen for Givenchy gown (with Jenner's being the original). Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 6 May 2025 Rain, racing, celebrities, even Lego Formula 1 car replicas (that actually ran) all made their appearances Sunday at the Miami International Autodrome before McLaren dominated the day on the track. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 May 2025 Companies are creating digital replicas of warehouses to monitor operations in real time. Umesh Kumar Sharma, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
Noun
  • To backtrack: Sepideh Farsi was compelled by the images coming out of Gaza to travel there.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
  • Miami Cancer Institute’s Skin Cancer Clinic can do a whole-body scan with the Vectra 3D, a machine that takes detailed images and creates a body map to allow experts to study and monitor lesions and other skin abnormalities and accurately assess changes over time.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Inside, authorities allegedly found more debit cards with numerous names on them, copies of multiple driver’s licenses, bank documents and more than a dozen cell phones, state police wrote.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
  • The Oops album, released 25 years ago this May, sold a staggering 1.3 million copies its first week, becoming the fastest-selling female album of all time (a title held until Adele dropped her 25 record over 15 years later).
    Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Over at Fyre Drill, Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut will invite teams of Vikings to compete to outscore and out-soak each other on this water ride.
    Samantha Neely, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Saldaña and husband Marco Perego have done their best to keep their boys, Zen, 8, and twins Bowie and Cy, 10, out of the spotlight.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, other species of chain fern employed a specialized strategy called dimorphism, producing two different leaf types for photosynthesis and reproduction.
    Jay Kakade May 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2025
  • Whether in major label studios or home recording setups, there’s always a demand for accurate reproduction of the sound captured.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • It should be noted that SAG-AFTRA is not questioning the right of performers to license AI clones of themselves, but highlighting that Fortnite’s Darth Vader could have been played by a voice actor.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Professor Carsten Maple, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Warwick, warns that, with as few as 20 photos, AI tools can create a convincing digital clone of a person, including deepfake videos.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The domesticity that Bix and Cass get to experience here is a cruelly poor imitation.
    Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Becca’s disintegration emphasizes the parts of her that endure; the avatar, on the other hand, is a parody of that real flesh, an uncanny and malevolent imitation.
    Alexandra Kleeman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This looked like a man who has spent the season under pressure, worrying, his team not up to its usual standards, and all of that poured out in one moment of emotional release (top picture).
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • Elsewhere at the Harrigan house, O'Hara is painting a grim picture of the crime family's increasingly delicate situation.
    EW.com, EW.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • The baby that results from that is an exact genetic duplicate of the original donor animal.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Since taking office in 2020, Garrity estimates her office has flagged nearly $2 billion in improper payments annually, including overpayments, duplicates, or payments to the incorrect recipients.
    Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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