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 Several years ago, lidar surveys revealed that a small replica of Teotihuacán’s citadel lies just outside Tikal’s center. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025 View 2 Images Four tiny 3D organs connected themselves in a lab dish, forming a replica of the human pain pathway, in a new study. New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2025 Collector’s Edition Bonuses A limited Collector’s Edition includes everything in the Premium bundle, plus a custom globe with secret storage, a replica of the Allmaker Relic, an oversized SteelBook, and a collector’s adventure journal. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 New details about the sinking of the famed ocean liner, RMS Titanic, in 1912 have been revealed by a 3D virtual replica created by British deep-sea mapping company, Magellan Limited. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
Noun
  • That potentially gives him the opportunity to shape the country’s politics in his and his party’s image in a way no leader has since the Liberals’ John Howard in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Micromanagement isn’t always the classic image of a controlling boss hovering nearby.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • There was a grocery list, spice cans, copies of L.A. newspapers.
    Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The museum has housed another copy of this book since the 1930s.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This project marked Sidibe's return to acting after welcoming her twins with her husband.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The twins worked together on screen again in Own Worst Enemy (2014), 7 Days: The Story of Blind Dave Heeley (2019), and Last Night in Soho (2021).
    Julia Emmanuele, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • For a group of animals already at risk due to slow reproduction, additional reproductive stress caused by pollution could make recovery even harder.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Options among the four available range from an exact reproduction (this creates difficult-to-manage text boxes in Word) to unformatted text.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In a way, The Bad Batch became the culmination of everything that had been built around the seemingly simple concept of the elite clone troopers.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Nemesis is divisive among franchise fans, but Hardy’s performance as Captain Picard’s secret clone Praetor Shinzon feels exactly right.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Protecting the human spark While AI models that simulate creativity in writing, coding, images, audio, or video can achieve remarkable imitations of human works, this sophisticated mimicry currently lacks the full depth of the human experience.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The Golden Age of great chefs in America was born out of imitation, adaption and innovation by young cooks buoyed by receptive media to get a national, even global, audience.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Front and center was a picture of Tatum and Williams holding hands, with the actor kissing the model's forehead.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • William’s arrival to campus was met with a frenzied fanfare: A pack of photographers climbed over each other to get pictures of him and his father walking on the grounds.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Then move to cleaning: Remove duplicates, correct errors, resolve inconsistencies and handle missing values.
    Ashar Samdani, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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