Vocabulary for IELTS (General) - Similarity and Difference

Here you will learn some English words about similarity and difference, such as "distinguish", "diverse", "variety", etc. that are needed for the IELTS exam.

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to contrast [verb]

to compare two people or things so that their differences are noticeable

Ex: We are contrasting the pricing strategies of various competitors in the market .

to differ [verb]

to be different from something or someone

Ex: Can you please explain how your proposal differs from the previous one ?

to differentiate [verb]

to recognize the difference present between two people or things

Ex: The two products are clearly differentiated by their packaging and branding .

to distinguish [verb]

to recognize and mentally separate two things, people, etc.

Ex: The expert distinguishes between authentic and counterfeit artworks .

to vary [verb]

to make changes to or modify something, making it slightly different

Ex: The teacher varies the classroom activities to accommodate different learning styles .

to compare [verb]

to examine or look for the differences between of two or more objects

Ex: The scientist will compare the experimental results to draw conclusions .

to resemble [verb]

to have a similar appearance or characteristic to someone or something else

Ex: The painting resembled a famous masterpiece , but with slight differences in color .

contrary [adjective]

completely different or opposed in basic qualities or usual behaviors

Ex: Her actions were contrary to what she had promised , leading to confusion and mistrust among her colleagues .

conversely [adverb]

in a way that is different from what has been mentioned

Ex: Although she expected increased vitality through exercise , conversely , she felt more fatigued after each workout .

distinct [adjective]

separate and different in a way that is easily recognized

Ex: Each flavor of ice cream has a distinct taste , making it easy to identify even when blindfolded .

diverse [adjective]

showing a variety of distinct types or qualities

Ex: She enjoys listening to diverse genres of music , from classical to jazz .

alike [adjective]

(of two or more things or people) having qualities, characteristics, appearances, etc. that are very similar but not identical

Ex: The two models had strikingly alike bone structures , making them ideal candidates for twin-themed photo shoots .

comparable [adjective]

having similarities that justify making a comparison

Ex: The salaries offered by the two companies are comparable , but the benefits differ .

equivalent [adjective]

having the same meaning, quality, value, etc. as a different person or thing

Ex: Mathematicians proved the equations represented equivalent formulations of the same underlying theoretical concept .

identical [adjective]

similar in every detail and totally alike

Ex: The test results for the two samples were identical , confirming their purity .

similar [adjective]

(of two or more things) having qualities in common that are not exactly the same

Ex: The two cars had similar features , both having leather seats and a sunroof .

homogeneous [adjective]

composed of things or people of the same or very similar type

Ex: The music festival attracted a homogeneous crowd of rock music enthusiasts .

indistinguishable [adjective]

impossible to differentiate or recognize as different

Ex: The two sauces tasted almost identical , making them indistinguishable in the blind taste test .

sort of {~noun} [adverb]

to a degree or extent that is unclear

Ex:

distinction [noun]

an obvious difference between two similar or related things or persons

Ex: The distinction of being the first to climb the mountain made him famous in the climbing community .

variety [noun]

a range of things or people with the same general features but different in some details

Ex: The school hosts a variety of extracurricular activities , catering to different interests and talents .

variation [noun]

a slight change in level, amount, magnitude, etc. of something

Ex: His accent had a subtle variation from the local dialect .

collision [noun]

a serious disagreement between people, ideas, opinions, etc.

anomaly [noun]

something that deviates from what is considered normal, expected, or standard

Ex: Statistical process control charts are useful for detecting any anomalies that may signal issues with a manufacturing process .

congruent [adjective]

similar and in agreement with something

Ex:

copycat [noun]

a person who imitates the actions, clothes, ideas, etc. of someone else

Ex: The marketing team was frustrated with the competitor 's copycat advertising campaign , which mirrored their successful strategy .

generic [adjective]

relating to or suitable for a whole group or class of things rather than a specific one

Ex: The store sells generic brands of household products that are more affordable than name brands .

chasm [noun]

a profound division separating people, beliefs, or viewpoints

Ex: Generational chasms made communication difficult at family gatherings .

to counterpoint [verb]

to highlight differences by comparison

Ex: The study counterpoints the effects of two different teaching methods .

differential [adjective]

different in comparison to something else based on the circumstances

Ex: The therapy program is tailored to each patient 's needs , addressing their specific areas of concern with a personalized differential approach .

Vocabulary for IELTS (General)
Communication	Art	Music	Literature
Movie and Theater	The Media	Argument and Agreement	Certainty and Uncertainty
Expressing an Opinion	Advice and Suggestion	Making a Decision	Sickness and Health
Cause and Effect	Success and Failure	Education	Space
Money	Business	The environment	Likes and Dislikes
Persuasion and Involvement	Similarity and Difference	Signposting	Problems and Solutions
Being in Charge	Talking about Senses	Possession	Talking about Change
Talking about Events and Incidents	Lifestyles	Tourism	The Planet Earth
Phrasal Verbs