PARALLELS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

parallels 1 of 2

noun

plural of parallel

as in similarities

a point which two or more things share in common her professor pointed out some parallels between the two novels

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in equivalents

one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value an advance that is without parallel in the history of virology

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parallels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of parallel

as in matches

to be the exact counterpart of developments in the television show paralleled those in the lead actor's real life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 parallels

Noun

There’s no escaping the parallels between Crown Princess Rajwa of Jordan and Kate Middleton. — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Oct. 2026 And many Trump detractors have drawn parallels to Anthony Scaramucci’s infamous 11-day stint as White House communications director in 2017. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 But in Season 4, the balance is off, and the fictional president’s parallels to our real-life war-starting, ally-betraying POTUS only make the former’s plight feel that much more trivial. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 Pops draws parallels to ABC’s The Rookie, about LAPD’s oldest rookie, which also was based on a real person changing careers midlife. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Such is the strength of feeling that many are drawing parallels with the country’s pivotal May 1968 student revolution. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026 Driving many of the biblical parallels are two sets of siblings — half-brothers, Charles and Adam Trask, and later, Adam’s fraternal twin sons Cal and Aron — each competing for their father’s attention and love. — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Reitman started to think about the parallels between Mariyam’s and Andrew’s stories — two disillusioned kids finding extremist communities online — and the very different ways authorities treated them. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026 Assal Rad examines the parallels between the American media’s treatment of the invasion of Iraq and the genocide in Gaza. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

As investor interest in non-sports cards and TCGs keeps growing, the market has developed an ecosystem that parallels traditional exchanges, indexes and brokers. — Bob Woods, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026 This shift parallels how electricity eventually transformed business by enabling entirely new capabilities rather than simply replacing candles. — Brian Solis, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Yet despite the spooky parallels, Harrelson’s ghost very nearly cost Zada the part. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026 The film parallels the trauma of a broken body with that of a broken home. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 The Orwellian parallels and Cold War overtones are strong on this particular planet, where a hive-mind entity enforces conformity through mass surveillance and zero-tolerance punishments. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Even without a tearful backstory that parallels the circumstances of Hank’s current assignment with an almost cartoonish precision, Ritchson makes Hank likable with a performance that’s thoughtful, human and drily funny. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 Another episode, in which the pals attempt to win an award for best bar, parallels the comedy’s perpetual shutout from the Emmy Awards. — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 The vice president’s first book is Hillbilly Elegy, a title that closely parallels Appalachian Elegy, a poetry collection by the radical Black feminist author bell hooks. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parallels

Noun

The proof’s similarities to Buckmaster and Alpöge’s progress are superficial.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
While one is a skin care powerhouse and the other a fragrance leader, there are some similarities.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of similarities

Noun

The widening gap in French bond yields over their German equivalents has raised questions over whether the European Central Bank would have to take the expensive and politically controversial step of intervening to stabilize the market.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
In the summer of 2026, Ukraine also targeted multiple warehouses belonging to the Russian companies Wildberries and Ozon, which are Russia’s Amazon equivalents.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of equivalents

Verb

Shift workers, night owls or anyone running late schedules may feel better with a midday or early afternoon session that matches their own rhythm.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
No new date was set to decide whether the city or county, or some collaboration between the two, will run the database that records contacts with homeless people and the system that matches people to housing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of matches

Noun

To make the resemblances convincing, Gethings recruited participants by complementing their standout features and promising to accentuate them with the help of hair and makeup stylists in a studio setting.

— Pat Mueller, USA Today, 30 May 2026
Most of the film’s other resemblances, of which there are many, prove less distressing.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026

Definition of resemblances

Noun

Even after the setback, young households remained wealthier than their counterparts were before the pandemic.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
In more recent times, moreover, the first steps taken by the Third Reich toward the Holocaust began with the economic boycott of the Jews, who were accused of harming the businesses and positions of their Aryan counterparts.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of counterparts

Noun

New Skydance content sales chief David Decker was all smiles at the WBD stand, able to look over and see his new Paramount colleagues just along the beachfront.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Eventually, Chili invites Lee over to his house, far away from the ears of his former colleagues shooting pool at Secrets.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of colleagues

Noun

Users submit coordinates of rat sightings (dead or alive) alongside a short report on the setting.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
Intelligent dispatch software coordinates charging schedules with fleet demands to keep equipment operating without interruption and without relying on the grid.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of coordinates

Noun

The papers are said to have contained highly sensitive information, some likely supplied by Germany’s intelligence partners – so the affair could have serious international ramifications at a time when Europe is facing grave security threats.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
This week, Ukraine also did not receive advanced warning from partners of incoming ballistic missiles, resulting in civilian deaths, according to Ukrainian officials.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of partners

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parallelism

parallels

paralysis

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“Parallels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parallels. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of parallels

noun

verb

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