differentvssimilar
Different and similar are opposites. Different means not the same — unlike another in nature, form, or degree. Similar means alike — sharing qualities or appearance without being identical. They sit at the two ends of one axis: how closely two things correspond. One says they don't match; the other says they do, closely.
Two pendulums on one beam, the right rod plainly longer — pushed off together, the longer one swings slower and they drift out of step, one bob at the top while the other heads home. They start alike and cannot keep time; no warm lock ever forms.
/ˈdɪfərənt//ˈdɪfrənt/·adjectiveThe same beam, but both rods the same length — so the two bobs swing as one, rising and falling together, apexes matched for ever, a warm glow gathering as they stay in perfect register.
/ˈsɪmələr//ˈsɪmɪlə/·adjectiveBoth words measure the same thing — how alike two things are — and point in opposite directions. Different comes from the Latin differre, 'to carry apart': unlike, set apart. Similar comes from similis, 'like': alike, corresponding. The cleanest way to see the contrast is two pendulums on one beam: make the rods the same length and they swing in perfect lock-step (similar); make one rod longer and they drift out of step (different). Same beam, one variable — rod length — opposite results.
What each means
different
Different means not the same — unlike another in nature, form, or degree. It comes from the Latin differre, 'to carry apart', the same root as differ and differentiate. It is the plain, everyday opposite of similar, and it spans the whole range from the trivial (a different colour) to the profound (a wholly different worldview). Mind the preposition: standard English prefers 'different from', though 'different to' (British) and 'different than' (American, before a clause) are both common.
similar
Similar means alike — sharing qualities or appearance without being the same. It comes from the Latin similis, 'like', the root behind 'resemble', 'assimilate', and 'simile'. Two things are similar when they correspond closely enough to invite comparison, yet stay distinct, so that you might draw an analogy between them. The standard preposition is 'similar to'. It is gentler than 'identical', which claims full sameness, and it is the natural opposite of different.
At a glance
| different | similar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | not the same; unlike | alike without being identical |
| Direction | apart; fails to correspond | together; corresponds closely |
| Preposition | different from (to / than) | similar to |
| Root | Latin differre, to carry apart | Latin similis, like |
| In the scene | longer rod → pendulums drift apart | equal rods → pendulums lock in step |
| Example | a completely different result | a broadly similar result |
How to remember the difference
Picture one brass beam with two pendulums. Make the rods equal and they share a period, swinging as a single body in lock-step, warm and matched — that staying-in-rhythm is similar. Make one rod longer and it swings slower, the two drifting out of step stroke by stroke, cool and apart — that losing-the-beat is different. Same beam, one variable: rod length. If they keep the same rhythm, they are similar; if they drift apart, they are different.
Examples
different
- Their two accounts were so different that one had to be wrong.
- A completely different approach was needed.
- The climate here is quite different from back home.
similar
- The two languages are similar enough to follow each other.
- Her results were broadly similar to earlier studies.
- We took a similar approach to last year's.
They are direct opposites on the scale of likeness. Mind the prepositions: 'different from' (the safest in formal writing; 'to' and 'than' also occur) versus 'similar to'. Note the litotes 'not dissimilar', which lands on the similar side — a formal way of saying 'quite similar'. For degrees in between, reach for 'comparable' or 'broadly similar'.
FAQ
- What is the difference between different and similar?
- They are opposites. Different means not the same — unlike in nature, form, or degree. Similar means alike, sharing qualities without being identical. Different points to things failing to correspond; similar to things that correspond closely.
- Are different and similar antonyms?
- Yes. They sit at opposite ends of one axis — how closely two things match. Similar's other antonyms include dissimilar and unalike; different's include identical and alike.
- Is it 'different from', 'different to', or 'different than'?
- All are used, but 'different from' is the safest in formal writing and accepted everywhere. 'Different to' is common in British English; 'different than' is common in American English, especially before a clause. Similar always takes 'similar to'.
- What's the difference between similar and identical?
- Similar means alike but still distinct; identical means exactly the same, with no difference. Twins can be similar in manner yet not identical, or identical in looks yet different in character.
- What does 'not dissimilar' mean?
- It is a litotes (understatement) that means 'quite similar'. Because dissimilar is the opposite of similar, negating it lands you back on the similar side, in a slightly formal way.
- How do you pronounce different and similar?
- Different is /ˈdɪfərənt/ (often two syllables in speech, DIF-rnt); similar is /ˈsɪmələr/ (US) or /ˈsɪmɪlə/ (UK), stressed on the first syllable (SIM-i-lar).