duplicate 1 of 3

Definition of duplicatenext

duplicate

2 of 3

noun

duplicate

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to copy
to make an exact likeness of art students trying to duplicate paintings in the museum's collection as part of their training

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to replicate
to make or do again we were unable to duplicate the experiment in our own lab, so we're suspicious

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to double
to make twice as great or as many the recipe can be easily duplicated in order to feed a large family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun duplicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When is it sensible to use copy instead of duplicate?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can facsimile be used instead of duplicate?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, 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 duplicate?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate 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

When might reproduction be a better fit than duplicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

How does the noun duplicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When is it sensible to use copy instead of duplicate?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can facsimile be used instead of duplicate?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, 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 duplicate?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate 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

When might reproduction be a better fit than duplicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

How does the noun duplicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of duplicate are copy, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When is it sensible to use copy instead of duplicate?

The meanings of copy and duplicate largely overlap; however, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can facsimile be used instead of duplicate?

Although the words facsimile and duplicate have much in common, 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 duplicate?

While the synonyms replica and duplicate 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

When might reproduction be a better fit than duplicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to duplicate, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 duplicate
Adjective
Using unique identifiers attached to each arrestee, The Post excluded a number of apparent duplicate arrests from its analysis. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026 More recently, initiatives such as Operation Janus and Operation Second Look have used data matching and record review to identify inconsistencies in immigration files, including cases involving duplicate identities, missing biometric data, or undisclosed prior removal orders. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
Software engineer Alexey Grigorev recently watched an AI agent destroy his entire production database—wiping out years of course data after a setup error caused the system to delete the live environment instead of cleaning up duplicates. Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026 Eliminate duplicates or lone items like unmatched socks, unwanted gifts, or free giveaways. Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Can this version of the team duplicate or improve on last season? Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026 Because of their popularity, his productions were frequently duplicated without authorization. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicate
Adjective
  • Within the first camp, which was preserved because the Romans built a road over it, archaeologists discovered two identical groups of rooms adjacent to a larger one that contained a hearth, according to a press release.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
  • In it, a thin wooden beam with two lead balls on its ends was suspended from a wire at its center and then a structure that had heavier lead balls and was otherwise identical was stacked on top of the first beam.
    Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But in this day and age of college football, with name, image and likeness deals keeping kids in college and depleting draft classes … are there really any reaches outside of the first 20 picks?
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Between Hubble's first image of the Trifid taken in 1997 and this new image, astronomers have been able to measure the speed of the jet and see how its size and structure have changed during the intervening 29 years.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Knapp’s wife, Grace Knapp, was presented with a copy of the commemorative street sign.
    Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • There was a stack of six advanced reader copies of my own book.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The organism not only became active again but was also able to reproduce asexually, suggesting that its cellular structures remained intact despite the passage of millennia.
    Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
  • After his death in 1993, the hippos escaped and began reproducing in the wild.
    Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This provided a comfort blanket and a lead that Chelsea and Liverpool, unable to shift the glare of scrutiny away from themselves, couldn’t replicate.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Ahead of taking on the task of replicating Michael's legendary voice and performing skills, Jaafar practiced for hours on end to sing as Michael.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Rodman doubled the lead early in the second half, marking her 100th appearance for the Spirit with her first goal of the season.
    Asli Pelit, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Antonacci also scored a run in the seventh, doubled, walked and was hit by a pitch for the Sox (11-15).
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Kirsten Kelly-Vargas and her husband, Gary, felt a similar urgency to acquire the proper attire for the occasion.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • Paller tried a similar experiment in 2009, this time using sound.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Apparently, plans are underway to open a replica of the cave for the general public, but Herzog beats them to the punch by putting this natural museum on the big screen.
    Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The Yankees also wore replicas of their 1921 road uniforms for the first Field of Dreams game in 2021.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Duplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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