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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The single-level home has four bedrooms and an equal number bathrooms in roughly 3,200 square feet. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026 This retelling proves that by the mid-’50s, Krasner is Pollock’s equal and deserved to be see on her own. — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
And there’s also been a real increase in dancers collaborating with artists as equals, appearing in roles other than backup. — Billboard Japan, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2026 Young and old can learn from each other, not as mentors and mentees, but as equals. — Gloria Steinem, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
One serving equals a slice of whole-grain bread, half a cup of cooked oats, half a cup of brown rice or a small bowl of whole-grain cereal. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 The last time the Indians started a season 6-0 was in 1967, but Keller equaled that by virtue of a thrilling 49-42 win over Trophy Club Byron Nelson in key District 4-6A game on Thursday night at Keller ISD Stadium. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 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
  • Organizations need transparent goal-setting, equitable evaluation systems that don’t penalize flexibility and cultural change that values contribution over face time—a significant mindset shift.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The most effective, equitable, and cost-effective solution is Medicare for All.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of equitable
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
Adjective
  • Last week, Niti Aayog, an Indian government think tank, shared a framework for local governments to evaluate data center projects for sustainability and to provide suitable locations, based on grid readiness and water supply availability.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Though the park’s activities are suitable for a wide variety of thrill seekers, participants must weigh between 45 and 250 pounds to safely use the park’s gear and be shorter than 6-foot-6.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 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
  • This elegant purple is the equivalent of buying a classic Max Mara trench in mulberry instead of tan—streamlined and simple, but with a wink.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The company held almost $132 billion in cash, equivalents and short-term investments at the end of June.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Verb
  • By running her streak to six consecutive games with at least three blocks, Stokes matched the WNBA postseason record set by Lisa Leslie in 2003.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators swabbed the home for DNA, and in 2019 developed a profile that matched Pollard, court records show.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of match
Verb
  • 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
  • Winning means making much tougher decisions about what to put on the floor.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of mean
Verb
  • In the last seven years, Bryan’s struggle to become a better person has paralleled his quest to become a good songwriter.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
  • So the conversation paralleled what was going on with the character and with myself, which was cool.
    — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 16 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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