equate

verb

i-ˈkwāt How to pronounce equate (audio)
Definition of equatenext
1
as in to compare
to regard or represent as equal or comparable a value system that equates money with success

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to refer
to describe as similar you're being silly when you equate the talent of that pop star with the musical genius of Mozart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to balance
to make equal in amount, degree, or status you'll stop running up debts when you start equating what you spend with what you earn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 equate Some visitors say paying respects at Yasukuni carries a spiritual meaning that should not be equated with endorsing war. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 People like to knock Nolan’s screenwriting, which is often equated with dialogue. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026 For those who equate sport watches with rubber straps, the Hermès Cut is a nice entry point. — Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vogue, 31 July 2026 Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle equated Ryan to the person, cloaked head to foot in soot, who shovels coal into a train engine without the passengers ever seeing his face. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for equate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equate
  1. compare
  2. balance
  3. adjust
  4. equalize
  5. compensate
  6. accommodate
Verb
  • With Mike McDaniel tailoring an offense around him, and Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle offering lethal receiver targets, Tagovailoa threw 73 touchdowns, compared with 29 interceptions, over those three seasons.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Among the roughly 500,000 options contracts traded in SpaceX on Thursday, 335,000 were calls, with 168,000 of those calls likely bought, SpotGamma data shows, compared with just 75,000 puts purchased.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of compare
Verb
  • Since fruit contains a lot of moisture, adding dry, shredded leaves on top helps balance moisture levels.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The company supplies the wiring, wire harnesses, power-balancing units, and delivery circuitry required to collect and route the electrical current.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of balance
Verb
  • As serotonin remains active longer, the brain adjusts by desensitizing some receptors.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Teams cross multiple time zones, adjust practice and sleep schedules and play at a neutral site far from their normal routines.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of adjust
Verb
  • Montreal equalized at the 37-minute mark on a goal by Fabian Herbers.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At the time the score was 1-1 and Switzerland had equalized just minutes prior.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of equalize
Verb
  • Both involve players compensated for playing football, and feature teams that generate millions in revenue and pursue players for their labor services.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Port Authority is clearly trying to compensate for the mazelike layout.
    — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • Simmer said there’s enough geographic diversity in the league to hold games in February because warm weather markets are able to accommodate them.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The various configurations allow the property to accommodate a range of needs, budgets, and even levels of privacy, making the experience that much more customizable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of accommodate

Browse Nearby Words

equanimity
equate
equated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All