Comparison & Similarity — TOEFL Academic Vocabulary

similar /ˈsɪmələr/ adjective B1

Meaning: Almost the same; alike in some ways.

Academic meaning: Sharing important characteristics with something else, though not identical to it.

Natural example: Your phone is similar to mine, but yours has a better camera.

Academic example: The second experiment produced similar results in a much larger sample.

Collocations: similar to · a similar pattern · similar results

Synonyms: alike, comparable, analogous

Antonyms: different, unlike

Word family: similarity (n) · similarly (adv)

⚠ Common mistake: Learners write 'similar with' — the pattern is similar to + noun.

Register: neutral academic · Usage: similar to + noun; similar in some respect. The noun is similarity (similarities between A and B).

whereas /wɛrˈæz/ phrase C1

Meaning: But, in contrast (used to compare two facts in one sentence).

Academic meaning: Conjunction contrasting two parallel facts or positions within a single sentence, common in formal comparisons.

Natural example: I prefer tea, whereas my brother drinks coffee every morning.

Academic example: Cities in the north rely mainly on rail transport, whereas southern cities depend on private cars.

Collocations: whereas in fact · young whereas · whereas others

Synonyms: while, in contrast to the fact that, but

Word family:

⚠ Common mistake: Learners start sentences with 'Whereas…' and never finish the contrast — whereas needs BOTH halves in one sentence.

Register: formal academic · Usage: Joins two full clauses: Clause A, whereas Clause B. Both sides must be parallel and genuinely contrasted.

unlike /ʌnˈlaɪk/ phrase B2

Meaning: Different from.

Academic meaning: Preposition marking a difference between the subject and a compared item, often to highlight an exception.

Natural example: Unlike her sister, Ana loves spicy food.

Academic example: Unlike the first survey, the second one included rural participants.

Collocations: unlike most · unlike in the past · unlike his brother

Synonyms: different from, in contrast to, as opposed to

Antonyms: like, similar to

Word family:

⚠ Common mistake: Learners use unlike as a verb ('I unlike this') — it is a preposition here; the verb meaning 'remove a like' is informal social-media language.

Register: neutral academic · Usage: unlike + noun, usually at the start of a sentence followed by a comma, or mid-sentence before the compared noun.

in contrast /ɪn ˈkɑntræst/ phrase B2

Meaning: On the other hand; differently.

Academic meaning: Phrase introducing the differing side of a comparison, used alone as a sentence opener or with to/with + noun.

Natural example: Tom is very quiet. In contrast, his sister never stops talking.

Academic example: In contrast, the control group showed no improvement over the same period.

Collocations: in contrast to · in contrast with · stand in contrast

Synonyms: by contrast, conversely, on the other hand

Word family: contrast (n/v) · contrasting (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Learners write 'in contrast of' — use in contrast alone, or in contrast to/with + noun.

Register: formal academic · Usage: As a sentence opener: In contrast, + clause. With a noun: in contrast to/with + noun.

equivalent /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ adjective C1

Meaning: Equal in value, meaning or amount.

Academic meaning: Having the same value, function or effect as something else, used for precise comparisons across systems or units.

Natural example: A kilometer is roughly equivalent to 0.6 miles.

Academic example: One year of the program is equivalent to two semesters of traditional coursework.

Collocations: roughly equivalent · equivalent to · the equivalent of

Synonyms: equal, comparable, corresponding

Antonyms: different, unequal

Word family: equivalence (n) · equivalently (adv)

⚠ Common mistake: Learners write 'equivalent with' — the pattern is equivalent to + noun.

Register: formal academic · Usage: equivalent to + noun; also a noun: the equivalent of + amount (the equivalent of $50).