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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in different

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Adjective
Current Russian President Vladimir Putin revived the Mother Heroine award in 2022, also throwing in a payment of 1 million rubles, equivalent to more than $12,000. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025 That’s roughly equivalent to the electricity needed to power 4.4 million homes for a day. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 21 Apr. 2025 Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). —Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 21 Apr. 2025 So, there’s a strongly interacting quantum system that has an equivalent description in terms of equations that look like gravity. —Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for equivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equivalent
  1. counterpart
  2. comparable
  3. different
  4. analogous
  5. other
  6. similar
  7. corresponding
  8. alternative
Noun
  • While major streaming platforms like Amazon’s Prime Video, Netflix and others have added sports to their rosters, some services, like Disney’s ESPN+ and direct-to-consumer counterparts of regional sports networks, are also offerings.
    — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The British Foreign Office confirmed that ministerial Ukraine peace talks with U.S. and European counterparts were postponed and downgraded to behind-the-scenes meetings with officials.
    — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of counterpart
Adjective
  • If Villa prepare assiduously to burst out of the blocks at home, then the inverse is often true on the road, comparable to a marathon runner who is unsure of their durability in the last few miles.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The past two comparable moves in this small-investor proxy, in November 2022 and March 2022, led to stiff near-term declines in the basket within weeks.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of comparable
Adjective
  • Pope Francis preached the same gospel in different language.
    — John Hope Bryant, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • There’s plenty of beach to go around in Florida, each with a different appeal.
    — Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of different
Adjective
  • In our model, the flow of traffic over a network of roads is analogous to the flow of fluids over a surface — motions that are governed by the laws of fluid dynamics.
    — Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
  • In 1958, Congress created Captioned Films for the Deaf, a program that was meant to be analogous to Talking Books for the Blind.
    — David Owen, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of analogous
Adjective
  • The president and his administration accuse Harvard, among other universities, of allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus, endangering Jewish students.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The trip to Brentford is little more than a lower mid-table meeting, but United’s other three engagements could have more riding on them.
    — Mark Critchley, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of other
Adjective
  • Wracked with guilt over Su-ho’s injuries, Si-eun enters Weak Hero Class 2 determined not to let another friend suffer a similar, gruesome fate.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Three other states – Louisiana, New Hampshire and Wyoming – have enacted similar laws in recent months.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of similar
Adjective
  • Population growth brings with it a corresponding rise in both point source and non-point source pollution, placing additional strain on our water systems.
    — Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • For each dollar spent on the services, the purchaser received a corresponding number of free sweepstakes points which could be used to play games of chance for cash prizes on computer terminals provided at the defendants’ Internet cafés.
    — Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of corresponding
Adjective
  • The ranking blends all major forms of consumption — sales, streams, and radio airplay — to show which tracks in the rock and alternative spheres are performing best in the U.S.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Peanut butter eggs One Easter egg alternative recipe has gone viral on social media.
    — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of alternative

Browse Nearby Words

equivalency
equivalent
equivalently
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equivalent. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on equivalent

Nglish: Translation of equivalent for Spanish Speakers

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

Words You Always Have to Look Up

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
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 Word Game 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?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-with-string
Fastest Quiz Ever: Missing Link Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All