tantamount

/ˈtæntəˌmaʊnt/

Group 14Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(adjective)
Equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as
GRE

Example in Context

The court ruled that the restriction was tantamount to censorship and therefore violated the constitutional guarantee of free speech.

Synonyms

equal toequivalentsame as

Etymology

So much in value or effect that it adds up to the same thing.

  • tant (Latin) — so much
  • amount (Latin) — to sum up

Memory Aid

🏔️Sounds like “tan ta mount

A TANNED guy climbing a MOUNTAIN that’s so high it feels like it’s TANTAMOUNT to reaching the sky!

Visual Association

⚖️A scale perfectly balanced, with two identical apples on each side representing equal value.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “tantamount” mean on the GRE?

tantamount (adjective) means “Equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as”. The court ruled that the restriction was tantamount to censorship and therefore violated the constitutional guarantee of free speech.

How to remember “tantamount” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “tantamount” sounds like “tan ta mount”. A TANNED guy climbing a MOUNTAIN that’s so high it feels like it’s TANTAMOUNT to reaching the sky!

What are synonyms for “tantamount”?

Common synonyms: equal to, equivalent, same as.