Synonyms of analogy

analogy

noun

1

as in metaphor

a way of describing or explaining one thing by means of describing another with which it shares certain points or qualities

The teacher used the analogy of a common pipeline to explain bandwidth on the Internet.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• metaphor
• simile
• device
• euphemism
• code word
• idiom
• circumlocution
• conceit
• dead metaphor
• crank
• expression
• figure of speech
• catachresis
• mixed metaphor

2

as in equivalent

resemblance in certain points or qualities between two or more otherwise unlike things

The study made note of analogies between human and ape social behavior.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• equivalent
• similarity
• counterpart
• homology
• equal
• parallel
• resemblance
• commonality
• common denominator
• similitude
• correspondence
• congruity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• difference
• discrepancy
• divergence
• variation
• modification
• change
• incongruity
• deviance
• incongruence
• dissimilarity

Synonym Chooser

How is the word analogy distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of analogy are likeness, resemblance, similarity, and similitude. While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

How do likeness and similarity relate to one another, in the sense of analogy?

Likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father

some similarity between the two cases

When might resemblance be a better fit than analogy?

In some situations, the words resemblance and analogy are roughly equivalent. However, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

When is similitude a more appropriate choice than analogy?

While in some cases nearly identical to analogy, similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of analogy

Historians search for analogies: Hurricane Katrina, and even Sept. 11 or Pearl Harbor. —Jennifer Medina, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Additionally, the use of Cold War–era analogies—or even analogies from the war in Ukraine—might go out the window if the United States decided to deploy troops to defend Taiwan. —Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2025

Newton used the analogy of a cannonball, fired horizontally, following a similar curve back down to the ground. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025

This analogy captures the atmosphere's ability to absorb a larger and larger amount of water vapor as temperatures increase, and wring out more and more water due to such temperature changes. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 12 Jan. 2025