replica

noun

ˈre-pli-kə How to pronounce replica (audio)
Definition of replicanext
1
as in image
something or someone that strongly resembles another filled with the usual chain stores, the new mall is a too-familiar replica of hundreds of other malls

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in copy
something that is made to look exactly like something else assembled a small-scale replica of the Queen Mary ocean liner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun replica differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of replica are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," 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 would copy be a good substitute for replica?

The words copy and replica can be used in similar contexts, but copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When is duplicate a more appropriate choice than replica?

The synonyms duplicate and replica are sometimes interchangeable, but duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace replica?

While the synonyms facsimile and replica are close in meaning, facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would reproduction be a reasonable alternative to replica?

In some situations, the words reproduction and replica are roughly equivalent. However, 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 replica Several years ago, lidar surveys revealed that a small replica of Teotihuacán’s citadel lies just outside Tikal’s center. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025 View 2 Images Four tiny 3D organs connected themselves in a lab dish, forming a replica of the human pain pathway, in a new study. —New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2025 Collector’s Edition Bonuses A limited Collector’s Edition includes everything in the Premium bundle, plus a custom globe with secret storage, a replica of the Allmaker Relic, an oversized SteelBook, and a collector’s adventure journal. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 New details about the sinking of the famed ocean liner, RMS Titanic, in 1912 have been revealed by a 3D virtual replica created by British deep-sea mapping company, Magellan Limited. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for replica
Recent Examples of Synonyms for replica
  1. image
  2. copy
  3. twin
  4. reproduction
  5. clone
  6. imitation
  7. picture
  8. duplicate
Noun
  • The asteroid is not fully visible in the first set of high-resolution images NASA released Monday, as the space rock is larger than Lucy's field of view.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The images of Francis washing the feet of young prisoners will forever be etched in our minds.
    — Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of image
Noun
  • There was a grocery list, spice cans, copies of L.A. newspapers.
    — Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The museum has housed another copy of this book since the 1930s.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of copy
Noun
  • This project marked Sidibe's return to acting after welcoming her twins with her husband.
    — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The twins worked together on screen again in Own Worst Enemy (2014), 7 Days: The Story of Blind Dave Heeley (2019), and Last Night in Soho (2021).
    — Julia Emmanuele, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Definition of twin
Noun
  • Hess’s book arrives at a historical moment—post-Dobbs, pro-natalist, techno-dystopian—in which both pregnant bodies and the stuff of reproduction itself have come under an extraordinary degree of scrutiny, judgment, and control.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Fruit fly reproduction Fruit fly reproduction can happen quickly.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of reproduction
Noun
  • In a way, The Bad Batch became the culmination of everything that had been built around the seemingly simple concept of the elite clone troopers.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Sawyer has played like a clone of Hubbard for the Buckeyes.
    — Paul Dehner Jr., New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of clone
Noun
  • These ivory pieces, showing signs of intentional modification, may represent the earliest evidence of deliberate ivory processing, possibly crafted by children as imitations of tools.
    — Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
  • People can learn what's acceptable and what's not through observation and imitation, and talking about other people's experiences can act as a warning sign for ourselves.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of imitation
Noun
  • The hospital had also uploaded Millie's picture to the same free platform, which is run by donations.
    — Analisa Novak, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Having access to this kind of DNA evidence allows for researchers to build a more detailed picture of their lives.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of picture
Noun
  • According to the lawsuit, ECE International is reconciling the claims, including identifying duplicate and unsupported claims.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025
  • For example, after an acquisition, duplicate processes may remain from the two merging organizations, leading to process-organization complexity.
    — Stephen Wilson, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of duplicate

Browse Nearby Words

repletion
replica
replicas
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Cite this Entry

“Replica.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replica. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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