analogy

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

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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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 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 See all Example Sentences for analogy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for analogy
Noun
  • Balloons are a potent metaphor for the series, according to Latta.
    Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Perhaps, their lack of synchronization serves as a quiet metaphor for the division within our nation.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In many respects, there are great similarities to the deal which brought Fran García back to the club from Rayo Vallecano two years ago.
    Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • There are some obvious similarities between the two division winners.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Research has consistently shown that women are held to higher standards than their male counterparts and penalized for exhibiting the very traits—ambition, assertiveness, confidence—celebrated in men.
    Aniela Unguresan, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Economically, adults in relationships tend to fare better than their single counterparts.
    Janae Bowens, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near analogy

Cite this Entry

“Analogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/analogy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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