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
One price does not mean equal access. —David Liberman, Fortune, 16 May 2026 Jennifer Aniston is the queen of wearing shoes that are equal parts stylish and practical. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Noun
Before the leagues’ recent expansions prior to the 2024 season, the SEC was merely the top conference among equals in producing NFL talent. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 For the first time, the two groups stood as equals. —Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Morgan Stanley downgrades Viking Holdings to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock following earnings. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 15 May 2026 More soap does not equal cleaner clothes. —Ryan Brennan may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 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
  • That requires investment not only in governance frameworks that protect sovereignty, privacy, and equitable benefit-sharing, but also in the digital infrastructure, research institutions, and technical talent needed to move from data generation to AI development and deployment.
    — Francisca Mutapi, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
  • The women’s team has almost — in so many ways — more at stake and has pushed harder than the men’s club, because they’ve never really been given that kind of equitable playing ground.
    — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 15 May 2026
Definition of equitable
Adjective
  • Exactly one year after nipping Marist in the state finals at Duluth’s Cecil Morris Field, the Blessed Trinity Titans did it again in an identical manner, edging Marist 1-0 in the GHSA Class 4A girls’ soccer state championship game on Friday night.
    — Jeff Gable, AJC.com, 16 May 2026
  • In practical terms, each new bridge design can be realized with identical effort once the robot and mix are ready.
    — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Definition of identical
Adjective
  • Hulse and her colleagues spent several days searching for a suitable location.
    — Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
  • The city is currently planning a new clubhouse there, and recently conducted polls on suitable designs.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • McIlroy overcame some early inconsistency to put together a composed round, while Burns leaned on excellent ball-striking to match him at the top.
    — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of composed
Noun
  • But, after a period of upheaval that has few equivalents in recent OM history, there are signs the club’s decision-makers are getting serious about tamping down the flames.
    — Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • The price of a bag of fertilizer has more than doubled in Disanaayake's area, from the equivalent of $15 dollars, to $37 dollars.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
Definition of equivalent
Verb
  • Reinvention begins where your daily life finally matches you.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
  • That kept him from matching his highest score in the PGA Championship.
    — Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026
Definition of match
Verb
  • The boutique hotel group was created by Kostis Karatzas, who’s also the founder of The Greek Foundation (a platform celebrating Greek creativity) and the publisher of The Athens Guide, meaning there’s an emphasis on connecting guests with the most exciting happenings in this vibrant city.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
  • That typically means on the south or west side of your home.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Definition of mean
Verb
  • The film — set amid Ireland’s care system — has remarkable, and coincidental, parallels with Keoghan’s own upbringing as a foster kid from one of Dublin’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 May 2026
  • The accusations paralleled those against Crasso in the Vatican tribunal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Apr. 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 21 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on equal

Nglish: Translation of equal for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lacuna

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Financial Words With Surprising Origins

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

9 Financial Words With Surprising Origins

Strange Words for Body Functions
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
roulette-wheel-thirteen
13-Letter Word Quiz Thirteen words, thirteen letters each. It’s you...
See All