Definition of resemblancenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word resemblance distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of resemblance are analogy, likeness, similarity, and similitude. While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

When might analogy be a better fit than resemblance?

The synonyms analogy and resemblance are sometimes interchangeable, but analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

How are the words likeness and similarity related as synonyms of resemblance?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father
some similarity between the two cases

When is it sensible to use similitude instead of resemblance?

The meanings of similitude and resemblance largely overlap; however, similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

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 resemblance The principals of Midsummer bear more than a passing resemblance to the reality TV casts of the 21st century. Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 The art world, with its credentialism, opaque jargon, and tendency to bow to powerful interests, bears a structural resemblance to both politics and academia. Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026 The snowy first look released by Apple back in March honestly bares some cursory resemblance to the snowy, period, Eastern European setting that the AI prompt manages to generate — which again is just for a storyboard! Brian Welk, IndieWire, 2 June 2026 The three decades since Kotter ended have not, evidently, been kind to the show, as the audience during dress rehearsal completely failed to recognize Ferrell's resemblance to Kaplan, and thus, the thrust of the joke. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for resemblance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resemblance
similarity
Noun
  • By studying past hurricanes, AI models can identify similarities with current storms and help forecasters detect important changes earlier.
    Katie Garch, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
  • Readers might have grown bored of me saying Joao Neves’ aerial anticipation and ball-winning bear an eerie similarity to peak-level N’Golo Kante, but the 21-year-old is a footballing genius.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Resemblance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resemblance. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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