tantamount Definition
equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.
Using tantamount: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tantamount" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
His silence was tantamount to an admission of guilt.
Example
The new policy is tantamount to a pay cut for employees.
Example
Her refusal to apologize was tantamount to an insult.
Example
The company's lack of action was tantamount to negligence.
tantamount Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for tantamount
Phrases with tantamount
used to emphasize that what follows is equivalent to a particular statement or action
Example
Saying that you don't care about the environment is tantamount to saying you don't care about the future.
equivalent to betraying one's country or cause
Example
Leaking classified information is tantamount to treason and can result in severe consequences.
tantamount to murder
equivalent to killing someone, often used to describe actions that result in serious harm or death
Example
Driving under the influence is tantamount to murder and can lead to long prison sentences.
Origins of tantamount
from Anglo-French 'tant amunter', meaning 'to amount to as much'
Summary: tantamount in Brief
The term 'tantamount' [ˈtæntəmaʊnt] describes something that is equivalent in seriousness or importance to something else. It is often used to emphasize the gravity of a situation, as in 'His silence was tantamount to an admission of guilt.' The phrase 'tantamount to saying' is used to emphasize the equivalence of two statements, while 'tantamount to treason' and 'tantamount to murder' describe actions that are equivalent to serious crimes.