parallel 1 of 3

parallel

2 of 3

noun

parallel

3 of 3

verb

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
There’s more interest in the past, and in Hirose and Nikaido’s delicate performances as two women living parallel lives in full view of each other. Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025 At another parallel Cannes event hosted by Better World Fund, Kevin Spacey received a lifetime achievement award. Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
Noun
That evidence of dependency on caregivers is another parallel between pet dogs and small children. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 May 2025 Dear Friends, The film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk directed by Sepideh Farsi, part of the ACID parallel section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, will be screened on May 15th. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Verb
The discussion on naked dressing adds fuel to a broader conversation online, where fashion influencers point out a rise in modest dressing, often paralleling it with the current economic scenario in the U.S. Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 13 May 2025 Traffic sounds that parallel your safety on the street? Stackcommerce Team (sponsored), PC Magazine, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for parallel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parallel
Adjective
  • The Gleason score is created through something similar to a point system.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • The Embraer designers envisioned a color scheme that was remarkably similar to Ryann’s, but pushed it one step farther with a carpet that became the cabin’s signature feature.
    Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • There are definite similarities between Federal and Georgian-style architecture, as Federal can be viewed as an evolution of the latter.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • Still, there are definitely similarities between the siblings, who are all graduating from Texas Tech’s College of Media & Communication.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Unlike last season, when the top-four seeds and first-round byes were reserved for conference champions, the top seeds will match the selection committee’s final rankings, with no regard to league affiliation.
    Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • One set of trousers and underwear matched Mulcahy’s DNA, and the other matched Duffy’s, corroborating his confession.
    Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • The work of flattening out three-dimensional sculpture into a two-dimensional painting was analogous to intellectualizing and abstracting Blackness as media became more mobile in the early twentieth century.
    Delinda Collier, Artforum, 1 May 2025
  • Together, these provide a wealth of data that any neuroscientist would envy — analogous to a perfect map of a person’s brain, along with separate electrodes to monitor the activity of each neuron.
    Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This is a mid-size crossover SUV with some resemblance to a Jeep Renegade from the front, albeit with a much more contemporary spin.
    James Morris, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • The Humane Rescue Alliance of Washington, DC, provided photos of adoptable dogs with some resemblance to that dog.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • These organizations serve about 30 million Americans across all 50 states but are typically under-resourced compared to their counterparts at major health systems.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
  • The French president met with his Indonesian counterpart on Wednesday as Emmanuel Macron continued his weeklong trip to Southeast Asia focused on strengthening regional ties in an increasingly unstable global landscape.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • China and imports Target's first-quarter comparable sales fell 3.8%, compared to analysts' estimates of a 1.08% decline.
    Siddharth Cavale, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • For this fiscal year, Ross anticipates a flat to 3% decrease in comparable store sales for the first quarter, attributing this to cautious macroeconomic conditions.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • The selection spans lightweight, colorful gowns, day dresses, coordinates from the resort and spring collections, as well as swimwear and accessories.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 15 May 2025
  • The team had followed coordinates from a GPS device the climbers had been carrying, which were shared by a friend of the men.
    CBS News, CBS News, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Parallel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parallel. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

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