as in similar
having qualities in common
parallel lives of two friends who first met in college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in similarity
a point which two or more things share in common
her professor pointed out some parallels between the two novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in equivalent
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
an advance that is without parallel in the history of virology
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to match
to be the exact counterpart of
developments in the television show paralleled those in the lead actor's real life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of parallel
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
In these spaces, parallel lines might eventually intersect.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
Cristina Guevara, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Leg Exercises Goblet Squat Stand with your feet hip-width apart, toes pointed slightly out from parallel.
—Greg Presto, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Reagan Drive parallels the interstate in north Charlotte.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parallel
Adjective
In parallel events, the festival will also lay on the DFF Music sidebar featuring artists such as Saint Levant; Yasiin Bey; Elyanna; Gustavo Santaolalla; Zeyne; Nooriyah; Nemahsis; Aisha Al Zaiani; Dana Al Meer.
—Noun
The meaningful parallel between Panama in 1990 and Venezuela in 2026 is not the removal of an authoritarian leader.
—Verb
Sit your hips back and down, reaching a depth that gets your hips and knees as close to parallel as possible.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for parallel
Adjective
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The indictment, which was filed on Wednesday and unsealed Sunday, comes on the heels of a series of similar indictments involving Portland Trail Blazers head coach and basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA journeyman Damon Jones.—
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There was a similar outcry after Celine Song's Materialists, which (spoiler) ends with Chris Evans proposing with a daisy ring.—
Noun
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Mpro, an enzyme that allows SARS-CoV-2 to replicate in host cells, holds structural similarities.—
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Researchers began to explore representational similarity among AI models with this approach in the mid-2010s and found that different models’ representations of the same concepts were often similar, though far from identical.—
Noun
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What exactly constitutes the functional equivalent of life without parole is still up for debate.—
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The Ford Econoline 150 — Ryan called it the van equivalent of the F-150 pickup — provided a prime canvas for extras.—
Verb
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One cheerfully holds a toothbrush, her hair wrapped in a matching second towel (for me, a universal symbol of maturity and womanhood.—
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Made popular by Toteme, this two-in-one coat is recognizable by the boxy silhouette with an attached, matching scarf that offers a unique look and extra layer of warmth around the neck.—
Adjective
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The story positions the protagonist’s work as analogous to nurturing a child.—
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The international sphere faces analogous pressures.—
Noun
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The radical republic that replaced it bore little resemblance to the partner of 1778, having descended into chaos, executions, and ideological extremism that threatened neighboring states.—
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Apart from being an actor, Lewis bears a striking resemblance to his dad.—
Noun
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Western counterparts often acknowledge them privately, even as public backlash from some European institutions and media figures ensued against Rubio’s candor.—
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The picks were something of a surprise considering the turret is usually filled with Survivor and Big Brother players (who are generally better versed in reality competition gaming strategy than their Bravo counterparts).—
Adjective
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After an office romance begins, employee retention at the organization drops by six percentage points, meaning turnover is 14% greater than in comparable firms.—
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Putting aside the visceral appeal of the reference to insider trading, are these allegations actually comparable to criminal insider trading in the securities regime?—
Cite this Entry
“Parallel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parallel. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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