equal 1 of 3

adjective

ˈē-kwəl How to pronounce equal (audio)
Definition of equalnext
1
as in equitable
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias the basic belief that everyone is entitled to equal opportunity in employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in identical
resembling another in every respect as far as I can see, except for the high price, the store-brand jacket is equal to the jacket with the designer label

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suitable
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance looking for someone equal to the challenge of running a large state university

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in composed
free from emotional or mental agitation he proceeded, in an equal tone, to recount the terrible events of the day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

equal

2 of 3

noun

as in equivalent
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value a basketball player who truly has no equal in his sport

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equal

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to match
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) no one has equaled Shakespeare's plays

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2
as in to mean
to be the same in meaning or effect being confined to home for a whole weekend would equal a death sentence in the minds of a lot of teens

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to parallel
to be the exact counterpart of in the British system a public school equals an American prep school

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of equal are equivalent, identical, same, selfsame, and very. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When might equivalent be a better fit than equal?

In some situations, the words equivalent and equal are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

When is identical a more appropriate choice than equal?

The synonyms identical and equal are sometimes interchangeable, but identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

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

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 equal?

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 equal
Adjective
That can be seen in the difference between the big indices and the equal weights. — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026 Similarly, while the S&P 500 is at record highs, an equal-weight version of the S&P 500 that gives each stock the same weight is down more than 4% since its record high in mid-August. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
This is a partnership of equals—not in the size of our populations, but in the depth of our commitments. — Naftali Bennett, Time, 9 July 2026 Those implementations must treat policy design and technical design as equals. — Maghnus Mareneck, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
That amount roughly equals 2% of China’s coal imports each year. — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026 Tech advances equal the playing field Gone are the days of pulling ropes and lifting weights on the yachts. — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for equal
  1. equitable
  2. identical
  3. suitable
  4. composed
  5. equivalent
  6. match
  7. mean
  8. parallel
Adjective
  • As part of the agreement, the district must revise its discipline policies, train staff on equitable discipline and review discipline outcomes annually by demographic group, reporting the results to the attorney general and school board.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Many other wealthy countries spend less money to get better outcomes – fewer premature deaths, longer health and life expectancies, more equitable access to care and so on.
    — Joshua R. Ehrlich, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of equitable
Adjective
  • The film, based on Josh Malerman‘s 2024 novel Incidents Around the House, follows a family whose house is haunted by a sinister entity that looks and sounds identical to the mother, with both versions played by the star.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This cartography of development is now helping researchers understand how identical cells in the early embryo develop into the distinct tissues and cell types of a complex organism.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of identical
Adjective
  • The program aims to keep used textiles out of general waste and mixed recycling bins, preserve clothing for reuse and improve the supply of material suitable for fiber-to-fiber recycling.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Secondhand platforms helped the team pinpoint suitable dupes for décor and furniture.
    — Mekita Rivas, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • The British singer, 27, composed and co-wrote the lyrics with Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang, according to the song credits on Spotify.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Emma style, a more composed and sensible block-heel pump, is for Elinor (Edgar-Jones).
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of composed
Noun
  • So language modeling seems to be merely a powerful component of human cognition, not its equivalent or source.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Before the war, a room at the hotel had cost the equivalent of five euros a night.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Verb
  • Everything is served on antique porcelain, mis-matched in design, yet unified in style.
    — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Her toenails were painted a light pink shade that matched well with the entire ensemble’s color scheme.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of match
Verb
  • This line of defense didn’t persuade Sweeney, who reasoned that adding athletes with expired eligibility would mean more, not less, market competition.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There was a time when fall was hospitality’s quiet season—the quiet lull between summer beach trips and ski season escapades, the time when back to school and back to work meant people largely stayed home.
    — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of mean
Verb
  • The recipes parallel Wen's evolution from immigrant kid helping out at her parents' restaurant to working actor cooking for her own children.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 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
Definition of parallel

Browse Nearby Words

equable
equal
equaled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/equal. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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