analogous
adjective
anal·o·gous ə-ˈna-lə-gəs 
: similar or comparable to something else either in general or in some specific detail
Timbre in music is analogous to color in painting.
Aaron Copland
Aaron CoplandAn airplane's joystick is somewhat analogous to the reins on a horse.
: similar in a way that invites comparison : showing an analogy or a likeness that permits one to draw an analogy a town council and a government body that serves an analogous function
analogously adverb
analogousness noun
Synonyms
- akin
- alike
- cognate
- comparable
- connate
- correspondent
- corresponding
- ditto
- like
- matching
- parallel
- resemblant
- resembling
- similar
- such
- suchlike
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
… gluons, force particles analogous to the photons of electromagnetism. Andrew Watson, Science, 22 Jan. 1999 … great stretches of algae, analogous to terrestrial woodlands, in which kelp fills the role of trees. William K. Stevens, New York Times, 5 Jan. 1999 … not by means superior to, though analogous with, human reason … Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859
Andrew Watson, Science, 22 Jan. 1999 … great stretches of algae, analogous to terrestrial woodlands, in which kelp fills the role of trees. William K. Stevens, New York Times, 5 Jan. 1999 … not by means superior to, though analogous with, human reason … Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859 Recent Examples on the Web Choose pots in analogous colors (which are side-by-side on the color wheel), such as blue or yellow, for a colorful, yet cohesive look. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2022 Although machines are digital, the human brain is analogous. Naveen Joshi, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 The extermination of youth is analogous to massacring society’s future and potential — a fear connected to movements that enforce unproven vaccines or that encourage chemical and surgical castration. Armond White, National Review, 20 July 2022 Its needs are completely different from ours, which means that features in its skull are probably not analogous to safety equipment. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 14 July 2022 See More
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2022 Although machines are digital, the human brain is analogous. Naveen Joshi, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron describes ways to practice equanimity, outlining a situation analogous to yours – sitting in heavy traffic, while people cut ahead of you. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 The extermination of youth is analogous to massacring society’s future and potential — a fear connected to movements that enforce unproven vaccines or that encourage chemical and surgical castration. Armond White, National Review, 20 July 2022 Its needs are completely different from ours, which means that features in its skull are probably not analogous to safety equipment. Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 14 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin analogus "proportionate" (Medieval Latin, "conforming to analogy") + -ous; analogus borrowed from Greek análogos "proportionate, conformable," parasynthetic derivative from anà lógon "proportionately," from aná "up, throughout" + lógon, accusative of lógos "word, speech, relation, correspondence, proportion" — more at ana-, legend
First Known Use
1646, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
analogous
adjective
anal·o·gous
ə-ˈna-lə-gəs
: showing analogy : similar
Medical Definition
analogous
adjective
anal·o·gous ə-ˈnal-ə-gəs
: having similar function but a different structure and origin
analogous organs
analogous
adjective
as in similar
having qualities in common bad-mouthing your sister is analogous to slapping her in the face—it's just as bad Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- similar
- like
- comparable
- alike
- such
- resembling
- parallel
- corresponding
- akin
- equivalent
- matching
- identical
- synonymous
- cognate
- resemblant
- related
- suchlike
- ditto
- correspondent
- connate
- same
- twin
- tantamount
- commensurate
- proportionate
- virtual
- relatable
- approximating
- allied
- approaching
- consistent
- on the order of
- congeneric
- interchangeable
- conforming
- equal
- indistinguishable
- duplicate
- kindred
- redundant
- kin
- coextensive
- conformable
- selfsame
- homogeneous
- uniform
- congenial
- substitutable
- coincident
- fungible
- consonant
- connatural
- homogenous
- entire
- close
- congenerous
- unvarying
- unchanging
- unvaried
- me-too
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- different
- dissimilar
- unlike
- various
- diverse
- distinct
- distinguishable
- disparate
- varying
- variable
- nonequivalent
- varied
- unrelated
- unakin
- inexact
- noninterchangeable
- imprecise
- inaccurate
- unconnected
Synonym Chooser
The words parallel and similar are common synonyms of analogous. While all three words mean "closely resembling each other," analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.
analogous political systems
While the synonyms parallel and analogous are close in meaning, parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.
the parallel careers of two movie stars
The synonyms similar and analogous are sometimes interchangeable, but similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.
all the houses in the development are similar