comparison
Weighing two options
Comparison is the act of examining things to see how they're similar or different: a comparison of the two candidates' tax plans.
Something that holds up well by comparison looks good relative to alternatives.
There's no comparison means one thing clearly outclasses another.
In grammar, comparison refers to adjective and adverb forms showing degree: positive, comparative, superlative.
Equidistant at all points
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- similitudeQuality of being alike
likeness · resemblance · correlation · equivalence · figurative · symbolic · analogous · akin
Level of quality accepted
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
- baselineStandard for comparison
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- criterionStandard for judgment
measure · gauge · touchstone · norm · barometer · index · threshold · target
Way things contrast
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- dissimilarityState of being unlike
variance · discrepancy · opposition · antithesis · dichotomy · polarity · contradistinction · juxtaposition
Likeness between things
- likenessVisual similarity or representation
- equivalenceState of being equal
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
congruence · uniformity · consistency · parallel · match · sameness · kinship · homogeneity
Formal evaluation of worth
- appraisalEstimation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- reviewCritical written assessment
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
critique · examination · scrutiny · weighing · consideration · estimation · valuation · rating
parallel
Equidistant at all points
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
similitude · likeness · resemblance · correlation · equivalence · figurative · symbolic · analogous · akin · exemplify
standard
Level of quality accepted
criterion · measure · gauge · touchstone · norm · barometer · index · threshold · target · exemplar
difference
Way things contrast
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
dissimilarity · variance · discrepancy · opposition · antithesis · dichotomy · polarity · contradistinction · juxtaposition · unlikeness
resemblance
Likeness between things
- likenessVisual similarity or representation
- equivalenceState of being equal
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
affinity · congruence · uniformity · consistency · parallel · match · sameness · kinship · homogeneity · concordance
assessment
Formal evaluation of worth
judgment · critique · examination · scrutiny · weighing · consideration · estimation · valuation · rating · ranking
superlative
Highest-degree word form
- adjectiveNoun-describing word type
- inflectionWord form alteration
- modifierWord altering another
degree · intensifier · than · more · most · less · least · -er · -est
- charts & graphsbar chart, pie chart, line graph, scatter plot, histogram
- comparisonsanalogy, metaphor, simile, allegory, parable
- Consumer Choiceshopping, brands, options, preference, alternatives
- Evaluationsevaluation, assessment, appraisal, review, rating
- infographicsbar graph, pie chart, line graph, flowchart, heat map
- insecuritiesinsecurity, self-doubt, low self-esteem, inadequacy, inferiority
comparisonisolation
Complete separation from others
disconnection · separation · segregation · compartmentalization · disassociation
comparisoncontrast
Notable difference between things
differentiation · distinction · dissimilarity · unlikeness · incomparability
- no comparisonWithout equal or rival
- pale in comparisonSeem inferior when contrasted
- comparison shoppingEvaluating competing offers
- suffer by comparisonSeem worse when contrasted
- comparison shopEvaluate competing prices
- price comparisonEvaluating costs between vendors