"compared to" vs "compared with"

Question

"compared to" vs "compared with"

Both 'compared with' and 'compared to' are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Compared with' is used to highlight differences between two things, while 'compared to' is used to show similarities or metaphorical comparisons.

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

Use 'compared to' when you want to draw similarities between two things or when making a metaphorical comparison.

Examples:

Her eyes sparkled like diamonds compared to the dull sky.
This task is a piece of cake compared to the last one.

Alternatives:

likened to
analogous to
similar to
resembling
in the same way as

Use 'compared with' when you want to emphasize the differences between two things or when making a detailed analysis.

Examples:

His salary is low compared with the industry average.
The new model is faster compared with the old one.

Alternatives:

contrasted with
in contrast to
as opposed to
in comparison with
in relation to

Answer 1

compared to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to show similarities or metaphorical comparisons.

Answer 2

compared with

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to highlight differences between two things.

"compared to" vs "compared with"

compared to

compared with

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