Synonym Chooser

How does the noun reproduction differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reproduction are copy, duplicate, facsimile, and replica. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

When might copy be a better fit than reproduction?

In some situations, the words copy and reproduction are roughly equivalent. However, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When would duplicate be a good substitute for reproduction?

The meanings of duplicate and reproduction largely overlap; however, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When could facsimile be used to replace reproduction?

The synonyms facsimile and reproduction are sometimes interchangeable, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to reproduction?

While the synonyms replica and reproduction are close in meaning, 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

Examples of reproduction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another group of volunteers (which included five subjects from the first phase) looked at reproductions of the paintings while inside a functional MRI machine, which measured their brain activity. Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024 Any number of sonic inaccuracies that ultimately take the sound away from a true reproduction of what was recorded. Verity Burns, WIRED, 10 Oct. 2024 Crass Words Any crass or overt mention of bodily functions, particularly those involved with reproduction—human, animal, or botanical. Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024 Lending pandas to zoos across the U.S. and other countries also encourages reproduction and helps save the giant pandas from extinction. Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reproduction 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reproduction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near reproduction

Cite this Entry

“Reproduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproduction. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on reproduction

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