equivalent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of equivalentnext
as in counterpart
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value that huge mansion at the end of the street is the equivalent of five ordinary houses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

equivalent

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in comparable

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in different

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word equivalent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of equivalent are equal, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When would equal be a good substitute for equivalent?

While in some cases nearly identical to equivalent, equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Where would identical be a reasonable alternative to equivalent?

Although the words identical and equivalent have much in common, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How are the words same and selfsame related as synonyms of equivalent?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route
derived from the selfsame source

How does the word very relate to other synonyms for equivalent?

Very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

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 equivalent
Noun
With too few people and too little time to sift through it all, METR used AI itself to analyze its findings, burning the equivalent of $400,000 in API credits supplied by OpenAI during their six on-site days. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026 That’s the equivalent of a year-and-a-half of full-time work, just to help a local theater. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The national debt, at $40 trillion, is equivalent to almost 85% of all retirement assets in the United States. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 Newer estimates place the eruption at approximately 912 cubic miles (3,800 cubic kilometers) of dense-rock-equivalent material, although older calculations put the figure closer to 672 cubic miles (2,800 cubic kilometers). — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
  1. counterpart
  2. comparable
  3. different
  4. partner
  5. analogous
  6. other
  7. similar
  8. substitute
Noun
  • There are lots of brands that have worked to give us beautiful soft mattes that glide onto lids and don’t feel patchy or heavy like their previous counterparts.
    — Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Their counterparts, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have not said anything to mark six months of the war.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of counterpart
Adjective
  • Estimating their value is difficult as comparable pieces rarely go on public auction.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Further specialist analyses will help determine whether the Kojetín hoard had a comparable significance.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of comparable
Adjective
  • Mike Coppola | Getty Images Rare Ventures will initially focus on funding the development of new treatments for seven different rare conditions.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • His October episode with Hailey Bieber also comes to mind — in a different way.
    — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of different
Noun
  • The InnoAsia Startup Demo Jam sits at the center of the first track, with nine companies, drawn from the open call and international partner recommendations, pitching AI, virtual production and digital-asset technologies to investors and buyers.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The upcoming War seems to be an example of how Sky works with different outside and inside partners.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of partner
Adjective
  • Astronomers are finding that in between the brightest stars, the 'tallest skyscrapers' in the above analogy, there are much fainter stars analogous to smaller buildings.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • War weariness on the rise Ukrainian experts say the logic of hitting largely consumer targets is in part retribution for analogous Russian attacks, and that disrupted supply chains affect the military as well.
    — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of analogous
Adjective
  • People can lose weight because of cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Among other packaging tweaks, the 3-ounce and 8-ounce mists, as well as the 8-ounce wash, now use custom bottles that were developed specifically for this line.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of other
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
Adjective
  • Applicants will have to register with the secretary of state, document a threat within the past year and receive a substitute address that government agencies must generally accept.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The bill would provide participants in the program with a substitute address, shielding their personal information and rerouting their mail through the Secretary of State.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of substitute

Browse Nearby Words

equivalency
equivalent
equivalently
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Cite this Entry

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

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