common denominator

as in similarity
a point which two or more things share in common the only common denominator between the novel and the movie allegedly based on it appears to be the name of the main character

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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 common denominator Masochism and apocalypse are deeply interconnected for me, their common denominator anxiety. Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 Some makers of cookware use a core of iron metals wrapped in other materials, but the common denominator is the requirement of iron to heat the pot or pan. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025 But there are a couple of major common denominators in all this that also tell us something else until it’s proven otherwise — a key variable for the Chiefs in the 2025 season. Vahe Gregorian july 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025 The common denominators are seasonal ingredients handled with care and artisanal producers at the top of their game. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for common denominator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common denominator
Noun
  • There are plenty of similarities to the previous campaign, with the No 10 — now Wirtz — pushing up to the last line alongside the striker, while Salah stays high on the right wing.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But the similarities are definitely there.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The look bore a similar resemblance to her 1990s runway style, which almost always included choppy, short — and sometimes spiky — layers no longer than her ears.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Of course, the resemblance was uncanny, from their matching smiles to their auburn-red hair, which Julia wore down in loose waves and Emma styled in a messy ponytail.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Common denominator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common%20denominator. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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