DUPLICATE Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'duplicate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy , facsimile , replica , and reproduction . While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing. // a duplicate of a house key

Q: When is it sensible to use 'copy' instead of 'duplicate'?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically. // printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

Q: When can 'facsimile' be used instead of 'duplicate'?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale. // a facsimile of a rare book

Q: Where would 'replica' be a reasonable alternative to 'duplicate'?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate are close in meaning, 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

Q: When might 'reproduction' be a better fit than 'duplicate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate , reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing. // reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

duplicate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdü-pli-kət

Definition of duplicate

as in identical

resembling another in every respect duplicate copies of the portrait that were painted by the artist himself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duplicate

2 of 3

noun

ˈdü-pli-kət

as in image

something or someone that strongly resembles another doll carriages that are duplicates of baby carriages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in copy

something that is made to look exactly like something else a duplicate of a house key

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duplicate

3 of 3

verb

ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt

as in to copy

to make an exact likeness of art students trying to duplicate paintings in the museum's collection as part of their training

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to replicate

to make or do again we were unable to duplicate the experiment in our own lab, so we're suspicious

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to double

to make twice as great or as many the recipe can be easily duplicated in order to feed a large family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun duplicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When is it sensible to use copy instead of duplicate?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can facsimile be used instead of duplicate?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to duplicate?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate are close in meaning, 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 might reproduction be a better fit than duplicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate, 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 duplicate

Adjective

Audits have repeatedly identified payments made on behalf of ineligible beneficiaries, duplicate claims and providers who should never have remained enrolled. — Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026 Equifax has identified approximately 37,651 individuals who had duplicate items on their reports. — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026

Noun

The 56 designated as Tough Ones are all duplicates from one of the other two types. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 Some sets come with additional lids, which may be duplicates or something unique, such as specially sized lids for soda bottles. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

More than 30,000 new job postings are added every day, while existing listings are continuously validated to help remove expired and duplicate opportunities. — William Jones, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 The fitness center’s executives say the new Alameda location won’t simply duplicate the existing LuxFit sites. — George Avalos, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate

Adjective

Modeling two different chamber sizes To understand how the hardware might scale up, engineers modeled two different chamber sizes under identical test conditions.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
The deal is almost identical to an earlier version that circulated in Sacramento last week.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of identical

Verb

Repeating this process can be time-consuming and difficult to reproduce.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
The team then ran thousands of simulations, testing which combinations of globular cluster properties and dark matter distributions could reproduce the stream's observed brightness and shape.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of reproduce

Verb

Other performers have tried to replicate his command of audacious, boundary-pushing comedy, but few (if any) have succeeded.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
But many say the dual leadership structure has put the company back on track, with Brockman able to make difficult calls with an authority that the outside executives cycling through couldn’t replicate.

— Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of replicate

Adjective

The Southwest zone in Option 3 would be similar to its zone in Option 2.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
For instance, a default daily time limit of two hours for users under 18 that can only be lifted by a parent, under the settlement, would drop to one hour If other social media platforms agree to similar terms.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of similar

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duplexes

duplicate

duplicated

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Style

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of duplicate

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