DUPLICATE Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'duplicate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy , facsimile , replica , and reproduction . While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing. // a duplicate of a house key

Q: When is it sensible to use 'copy' instead of 'duplicate'?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically. // printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

Q: When can 'facsimile' be used instead of 'duplicate'?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale. // a facsimile of a rare book

Q: Where would 'replica' be a reasonable alternative to 'duplicate'?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate are close in meaning, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale. // a replica of the Mayflower // miniature replicas of classic cars

Q: When might 'reproduction' be a better fit than 'duplicate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate , reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing. // reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

duplicate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdü-pli-kət

Definition of duplicate

as in identical

resembling another in every respect duplicate copies of the portrait that were painted by the artist himself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duplicate

2 of 3

noun

ˈdü-pli-kət

as in image

something or someone that strongly resembles another doll carriages that are duplicates of baby carriages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in copy

something that is made to look exactly like something else a duplicate of a house key

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duplicate

3 of 3

verb

ˈdü-pli-ˌkāt

as in to copy

to make an exact likeness of art students trying to duplicate paintings in the museum's collection as part of their training

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to replicate

to make or do again we were unable to duplicate the experiment in our own lab, so we're suspicious

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to double

to make twice as great or as many the recipe can be easily duplicated in order to feed a large family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun duplicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When is it sensible to use copy instead of duplicate?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can facsimile be used instead of duplicate?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to duplicate?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate are close in meaning, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower

miniature replicas of classic cars

When might reproduction be a better fit than duplicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 duplicate

Adjective

Connecting outside tools can reduce duplicate data entry and help keep your books current. — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 The commission says the revision is aimed to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain registered. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Noun

Modi's party and the Election Commission say the revision is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain registered. — Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026 Another 258 entries were duplicates, with the same unauthorized videos reported multiple times. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026

Verb

Information was duplicated across five or six locations, sometimes appearing in slightly different configurations. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026 Foster care leaders said the program duplicated existing services. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate

Adjective

Currently the Swingers menus are more or less identical across both locations, though Wilson expects to introduce unique daily specials at each.

— Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
During the 1998 Massachusetts governor’s race, political scientist Ted Brader ran a study that embedded campaign ads in a news broadcast and changed only the music and images, keeping the words identical.

— Monique Mitchell Turner, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of identical

Noun

Aljafari is recognized for his distinctive cinematic practice exploring memory, history, identity and the politics of images.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026
Rather than embrace the provocative image associated with some of her early roles, Portman maintained a more reserved public image.

— Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of image

Verb

That leaves open the distinction between recreating the behavior of an Atari 800XL through modern software and reproducing the original hardware more directly.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Beginning in the 1990s, researchers tested whether adding iron to seawater could reproduce some of that effect.

— Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of reproduce

Verb

Anthropic’s Claude Code tool quickly became a favorite among software developers after launching in early 2025, and the company sought to replicate that success for other office jobs earlier this year with its Cowork agent.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
As the designer explains, revisiting 1930s Milan isn’t about exactly replicating a Portaluppi bathroom.

— Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of replicate

Verb

At current growth rates, output per person doubles in twenty years in the US and takes forty-three years in the EU.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
This year, thanks to the surge in oil prices caused by the war in Iran, Diamondback’s second-quarter profits per share more than doubled from last year; Wall Street expects another boost when third-quarter earnings are released in a few weeks.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

But his planning doesn’t mean that the tax would survive the courts, and in any case, not every billionaire will necessarily make similar arrangements.

— Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Garshick told Prevention that stacking actives carries similar risks.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of similar

Noun

Later, however, a faithful replica, also called the Atlantic, was built.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 Oct. 2026
That team, fittingly enough, will be honored during the Hurricanes’ game on Saturday against Pittsburgh, with the current team wearing replica jerseys to recognize the group.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of replica

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duplexes

duplicate

duplicated

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Style

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of duplicate

adjective

noun

verb

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