Synonym Chooser

How does the noun facsimile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of facsimile are copy, duplicate, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

When is it sensible to use copy instead of facsimile?

In some situations, the words copy and facsimile are roughly equivalent. However, copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When can duplicate be used instead of facsimile?

The synonyms duplicate and facsimile are sometimes interchangeable, but duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When might replica be a better fit than facsimile?

Although the words replica and facsimile have much in common, 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

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of facsimile?

While in some cases nearly identical to facsimile, 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 facsimile Her presence here in this bar, a facsimile of every bar Laura had frequented in her twenties, served as a portal back to a period Laura could remember but no longer touch; the scenery was familiarly arranged, but the dreams, sensations, and illusions had vanished. Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 Director Adam Bhala Lough, frustrated in his attempts to interview the real Altman, chats with a digital facsimile of the tech mogul instead. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025 These superhero facsimiles somehow had better chemistry than their A-list counterparts. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025 The president’s government efficiency adviser took the stage at a Green Bay, Wis., rally to hand out facsimiles of two $1 million checks to attendees, an effort that was challenged in court but upheld by a state court judge. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for facsimile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facsimile
Noun
  • The precision-engineering racing rig (offered in yellow, green, blue, and orange) puts the driver into a detailed replica of a racing cockpit.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The top of the 2024 replica ring doesn’t detach, but championship pendants can be purchased separately for $249 apiece.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • According to Florida’s Medicaid website, out-of-state providers who have treated one of its enrollees must submit five documents to bill the program, including a six-page application, a copy of the provider’s license, and a claim form.
    Arielle Zionts, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
  • The Harry Potter series has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, according to its U.S. publisher Scholastic, and has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for 843 weeks and counting.
    Matt Craig, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • The doors to the Eagles’ indoor practice facility opened, and there, towering above swaths of stretching players, were twin images of the Lombardi Trophy, set behind two bold words: World Champions.
    Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Time and time again, the AI spit out images that were strikingly, unmistakably...
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • This behavior increases their chance of survival and reproduction.
    Harry Bernheim, The Conversation, 23 May 2025
  • Not to get all political right away, but every single frame of this series as a whole, and this season in particular, is colored by the inescapable pressure of fertility and reproduction at all costs.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Over at Fyre Drill, Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut will invite teams of Vikings to compete to outscore and out-soak each other on this water ride.
    Samantha Neely, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Saldaña and husband Marco Perego have done their best to keep their boys, Zen, 8, and twins Bowie and Cy, 10, out of the spotlight.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • In the joint post, the couple shared several pictures of themselves with their 2½-year-old son Merrick Avery.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Biden posted a picture on social media with his wife, Jill, after the announcement.
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • It should be noted that SAG-AFTRA is not questioning the right of performers to license AI clones of themselves, but highlighting that Fortnite’s Darth Vader could have been played by a voice actor.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Professor Carsten Maple, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Warwick, warns that, with as few as 20 photos, AI tools can create a convincing digital clone of a person, including deepfake videos.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Monumental staircases, fountains, friezes and portraits quietly transformed the Oasi Zegna landscape into a living museum, according to the company.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 27 May 2025
  • Inside the lobby, a large portrait of DeSantis is prominently displayed next to framed pictures of former Florida governors.
    Ana Ceballos, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Facsimile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facsimile. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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