Words / C1

uh-NAL-uh-g-uh-s/əˈnæləɡəs/

Analogous means similar in a way that makes comparison useful: analogous to training a muscle. Similar is everyday and looser; comparable is a close cousin. Analogy is the noun (draw an analogy). The pattern is analogous to / with. In speech, a bit like or comparable to is enough. An analogous case must share a structure, not a vague vibe — do not call two unlike problems analogous to sound clever.

Meaning

Similar in a way that makes comparison useful (analogous to).

Examples

• “Learning a language is analogous to training a muscle.”
• “The marking dispute is analogous to last year’s, not identical.”
• “Learning stress patterns is analogous to learning a piece of music: repetition with attention.”

Good to know

analogous to / with. Usefully comparable. Noun: analogy. Everyday: similar / comparable. Needs a real structural likeness.

Near in meaning

comparable

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