Equal
Equal adjective - Resembling another in every respect.
Usage example: as far as I can see, except for the high price, the store-brand jacket is equal to the jacket with the designer label
Like is a synonym for equal in identical topic. In some cases you can use "Like" instead the word "Equal" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like peer, equivalent. popular alternative
Like
Like adjective - Having qualities in common.
Usage example: you're not talking about like things when you compare football and golf
Equal is a synonym for like in comparison topic. You can use "Equal" instead the word "Like" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as similar. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
| complete | complete equal | complete like |
| total | total equal | total like |
| real | real equal | real like |
| little | little equal | little like |
| Other adjectives: military, scientific, western. | ||
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- Blossom: Well, it's like the song goes - the love you take is equal to... equal to... oh, who cares, it's by some dumb old band anyway.
Source: Waxing Lyrical - The Muggle Prime Minister is frustrated by Fudge and Scrimgeour treating him like a child instead of an equal.
Source: Condescending Compassion -
Like Cannot Cut Like Blades are equal because they can cut everything but other blades.
Source: These Tropes Are Equal
Cite this Source
Like and Equal. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/equal/like
Equal & Like. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/equal/like>.
Like or Equal. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/equal/like.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "equal" and "like" have occurred on timeline