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 There’s also a replica of the office of the founder, who is now the chairman of the house, while his son François Graff serves as chief executive officer. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025 In 2013, Marshall Field’s Department Store donated a paper replica to the museum and put it on display in honor of Jackie and JFK’s 60th wedding anniversary. Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025 Protesters around the world have used the image of the statue in their struggles for political freedom; a replica was erected in 1989 in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, as well as replicas of the shooter's shirt, people are also selling shirts that resemble the one Kirk was wearing when he was shot. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
Noun
  • Hey Alexa, create an image of traders popping champagne in the New York Stock Exchange.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In images taken from the Israel-Gaza border on Tuesday, plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the city, which is the largest in the Gaza Strip.
    Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That’s more than 500 equivalent copies from the period before, with more than 2,400 of those being pure sales.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Calligraphers like Mustapha produce sacred work, such as copies of the Quran, books of religious poetry, and amulets.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The paper also highlights the potential of digital twins — virtual patient replicas that allow doctors to simulate treatments before applying them in real life.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Cadence has expanded this technology beyond chip design towards creating digital twins of data centers including all the functional components.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The findings are changing the way scientists understand ant reproduction, showing that ants can produce individuals of another species as part of their life cycle.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Through pollination, insects enable the reproduction of flowering plants, including many that form the base of food chains or are agriculturally important to humans.
    Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Weaver would return as Ripley in David Fincher's Alien 3 in 1992 and as clones of the character in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Alien Resurrection in 1997, though the Alien franchise has continued on.
    Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But the clues as to what was happening were written on the images, allowing mission personnel to experiment on a clone of the camera, in a laboratory setting.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Third-party imitation involves observing interactions between two individuals then faithfully copying those interactions.
    GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • On the control side, the company reports combining reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and linear-actuator torque control so K2 can switch gaits dynamically across complex terrains and sustain a natural, human-like walk.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In a picture released by the Shin Bet, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Netanyahu’s chief of staff are seen peering over his shoulders.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Think an agent managing a sales pipeline by combining CRM data, support tickets, and financial reports to deliver a full customer picture.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Analysts like him would pore over positive duplicates of negatives, examining them under a micro-stereoscope to see sites in three dimensions.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Clean up messy data, remove duplicates and make sure everything follows a consistent format.
    Samuel Darwin, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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