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 Notable changes include a rising demand for moissanite jewelry — a diamond alternative with similar hardness and a sparkly rainbow shine. — Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 Riddance told Semafor that commenters regularly interacted with similar channels, and were likely largely real YouTube users. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Tech giants like Google have made similar moves in recent years. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 The new lawsuits make similar claims against OpenAI and Altman. — Shannon Bond, NPR, 2 Sep. 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
  • That suggests the possibility of traffic strategies targeting such neighborhoods, analogous to child safety efforts focused on schools and their surroundings.
    — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • This event is analogous to one geologists observed in 2021, known as the Chamoli disaster in India.
    — Thor Benson, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 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
  • The round trip marks the first such operation at Minot, according to the Air Force.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • To put that into perspective, no other player had five such games in the last five seasons combined.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 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 6 Sep. 2026.

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