similar

adjective

ˈsi-mə-lər How to pronounce similar (audio)
Definition of similarnext
as in comparable
having qualities in common the two actresses accidentally wore similar outfits to the same gala

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective similar contrast with its synonyms?

The words analogous and parallel are common synonyms of similar. While all three words mean "closely resembling each other," similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

When can analogous be used instead of similar?

The synonyms analogous and similar are sometimes interchangeable, but analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

In what contexts can parallel take the place of similar?

While the synonyms parallel and similar are close in meaning, parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

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 similar South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming also put similar requirements on the books for this year's midterms. — CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Eventually, similar vessels began appearing far beyond their place of origin, including sites in Jordan and other parts of the region. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 Whatever's motivating the withdrawal, the impact on the other person can be similar. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 In May, child advocacy groups Fairplay and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation asked the FTC to investigate Roblox over similar allegations. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for similar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for similar
  1. comparable
  2. analogous
  3. alike
  4. such
Adjective
  • Guarducci also noted the strength of the market, adding that Beverly Hills restaurants can generate volumes 20 to 30 percent higher than comparable New York locations.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Predicting Murray’s ceiling in Minnesota is comparable to predicting the weather.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of comparable
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
  • America's most affluent suburbs are more alike than different.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • According to author Caroline Hallemann—whose book The Kennedys and the Windsors came out on June 2—the two women were even more alike than meets the eye.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 June 2026
Definition of alike
Adjective
  • In March, the agency coordinated the release of 400 million barrels from these emergency oil stockpiles, the largest such intervention in its history.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Sebold’s was the third such attack in Thornden Park, which runs alongside the campus, in about seven months.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of such

Browse Nearby Words

silvery
similar
similarities
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Similar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/similar. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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