same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.
took the same route
derived from the selfsame source
very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.
the very point I was trying to make
identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.
identical results
equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.
two houses equivalent in market value
equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.
equal shares in the business
Examples of identical in a Sentence
We visited the identical place we stopped at last year.
They were wearing identical coats.
The boxes were identical in shape.
They drove virtually identical cars.
The results were identical to those of the first test.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
While virtually identical in size, the Aluminum carry-on offers 38 liters of capacity compared to the Hybrid that can hold 41 liters.—👁 Image Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026 In the eighth inning, Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor hit an almost identical drive.—👁 Image Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026 All candidates were asked identical questions.—👁 Image Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026 Adell leaped high above the yellow line on the wall to deny Cal Raleigh of a solo homer in the first and made a nearly identical catch to deny Josh Naylor of a solo homer in the eighth.—👁 Image CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for identical
Word History
Etymology
probably from Medieval Latin identicus, from Late Latin identitas
