SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
analogy
noun
A comparison that uses a relevant similarity to explain or understand something.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Explanatory comparison
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA likeness is a shared feature; an analogy uses that feature to explain or reason.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See analogy in use
The teacher used an analogy between a paragraph and a map to explain how transitions guide readers.
For her design seminar, Jo used an analogy between a crowded noticeboard and a busy screen: in both, competing messages could make one instruction hard to find.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license