Thesaurus results for PARALLEL

parallel 1 of 3

adjective

ˈper-ə-ˌlel

Definition of parallel

as in similar

having qualities in common parallel lives of two friends who first met in college

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

parallel

2 of 3

noun

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

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

parallel

3 of 3

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective parallel contrast with its synonyms?

The words analogous and similar are common synonyms of parallel. While all three words mean "closely resembling each other," parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

When can analogous be used instead of parallel?

In some situations, the words analogous and parallel are roughly equivalent. However, analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

When would similar be a good substitute for parallel?

While the synonyms similar and parallel are close in meaning, similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

Example 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 parallel

Adjective

Singer-songwriter-actress Dolly Parton, whose glittering country music stardom was matched by her pop fame and popular parallel careers in film and TV, died Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee. — Chris Morris, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 Diaper sizing Both brands offer parallel sizes based on babies’ weights from newborn (under 10 pounds) to size 6 (35+ pounds). — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Noun

Looking back, Davis also sees an aching parallel between those themes and the young actresses who ultimately played Gen and Casey. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 There are parallels to Sunderland, who came up last season with a similarly hard-hitting style, before investing heavily to enhance that approach for the Premier League. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

Drawing parallels, the article suggests modern leaders can adopt Shackleton's strategies, enhanced by AI tools like ChatGPT. — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 The vice president’s first book is Hillbilly Elegy, a title that closely parallels Appalachian Elegy, a poetry collection by the radical Black feminist author bell hooks. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for parallel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parallel

Adjective

The Southwest zone in Option 3 would be similar to its zone in Option 2.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
For instance, a default daily time limit of two hours for users under 18 that can only be lifted by a parent, under the settlement, would drop to one hour If other social media platforms agree to similar terms.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of similar

Noun

Branch has similarities to Xavier Worthy, and that gives him the chance to be another WR4 with weekly boom upside … assuming Tagovailoa eats some spinach for that arm or Michael Penix returns under center.

— Jake Ciely, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Twenty years into the modern era of Housewifery, there are lots of similarities among the cities and among the women.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of similarity

Noun

Eclipses always come in pairs, but the stages to be expected during a lunar eclipse are staggeringly different from its solar equivalent.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
And for those looking to whisk away the signs of aging, a foundation that’s formulated for mature skin can be the makeup-counter equivalent of the fountain of youth.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of equivalent

Verb

In the heart of the Upper East Side, L’Agence is bringing California ease matched with a little je ne sais quoi to New York City.

— Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Jones applied through the nonprofit New York Foundation for Senior Citizens (NYFSC) and was matched with an elderly woman who owns a home in Jamaica, Queens.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of match

Adjective

Astronomers are finding that in between the brightest stars, the 'tallest skyscrapers' in the above analogy, there are much fainter stars analogous to smaller buildings.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026
War weariness on the rise Ukrainian experts say the logic of hitting largely consumer targets is in part retribution for analogous Russian attacks, and that disrupted supply chains affect the military as well.

— Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of analogous

Noun

For many skywatchers, the difference between 96% and 100% will be surprisingly subtle — the complete opposite to a total solar eclipse, where a 99% eclipse bears no resemblance whatsoever to totality.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Her mother, Linda Gaboriau, is an accomplished literary translator who had sometimes served as a photographers’ muse, and as an art student, Auf der Maur had been struck by her own resemblance to the muses of Botticelli and Gustav Klimt.

— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of resemblance

Noun

These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Just like their younger counterparts, midlife women are also dealing with fellow singles who don’t want to commit.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of counterpart

Browse Nearby Words

paragraphers

parallel

paralleled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Parallel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parallel. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of parallel

adjective

noun

verb

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