Similar — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈsi-mə-lər/ sim·i·lar

Meaning & Definition of Similar

Similar (adjective)

  1. having characteristics in common, strictly comparable
  2. alike in substance or essentials, corresponding
  3. not differing in shape but only in size or position

Similar (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having qualities in common

    "the two actresses accidentally wore similar outfits to the same gala"

    similar: akin, alike, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, like, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, such, suchlike, on the order of
    related: commensurate, proportionate, tantamount, virtual, allied, congeneric, congenerous, congenial, connatural, kin, kindred, relatable, related, approaching, approximating, close, coextensive, coincident, conformable, conforming, consistent, consonant, duplicate, equal, equivalent, fungible, identical, indistinguishable, interchangeable, me-too, redundant, same, selfsame, substitutable, synonymous, twin, entire, homogeneous, homogenous, unchanging, uniform, unvaried, unvarying
    opposite: different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike
    near: disparate, distinct, distinguishable, nonequivalent, noninterchangeable, variable, varied, various, varying, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, unconnected, unrelated

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Similar

The most common words with a similar meaning to Similar:

akin, alike, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, like, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, such, suchlike, on the order of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Similar

Words with the opposite meaning of Similar:

different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike

Related Words for Similar

commensurate, proportionate, tantamount, virtual, allied, congeneric, congenerous, congenial, connatural, kin, kindred, relatable, related, approaching, approximating, close, coextensive, coincident, conformable, conforming, consistent, consonant, duplicate, equal, equivalent, fungible, identical, indistinguishable, interchangeable, me-too

Near Antonyms of Similar

disparate, distinct, distinguishable, nonequivalent, noninterchangeable, variable, varied, various, varying, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, unconnected, unrelated

Word Forms of Similar

Derived words: similarly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Similar

earlier, "(of parts of the body) made up of one substance, homogeneous," borrowed from Medieval Latin similāris, from Latin similis "having characteristics in common, like" + -āris -ar; similis going back to dialectal Indo-European *sm̥h2-el-i- (whence also, with different stem formations, Old Irish amal, preposition, "like, as," samail "likeness, similarity," Middle Welsh hafal "like, similar," Greek homalόs "even, uniform, equal, like"), derivative of *semh2 "one, one and the same" same:1

First known use: 1586

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Similar

Words & Phrases Containing Similar

self-similarity

Frequently Asked Questions about Similar

What does "Similar" mean?

"Similar" means having characteristics in common, strictly comparable. As an adjective, it is defined as: having characteristics in common, strictly comparable.

What is another word for "Similar"?

Other words for "Similar" include akin, alike, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent and corresponding. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Similar" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Similar"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Similar". Common alternatives include akin, alike, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto and like.

What is the opposite of "Similar"?

Antonyms of "Similar" include different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin and unlike. Near antonyms include disparate, distinct, distinguishable and nonequivalent.

How do you use "Similar" in a sentence?

Examples of "Similar" in a sentence: "the two actresses accidentally wore similar outfits to the same gala".

Is "Similar" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Similar" is an adjective.

Is "Similar" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Similar" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Similar"?

"Similar" is pronounced /ˈsi-mə-lər/ and divided into syllables as sim·i·lar.