English Dictionary

Definition of “tantamount

tantamount (ˈtæntəˌmaʊntPronunciation for tantamount

Definitions

adjective

  1. (postpositive)  foll by to as good (as); equivalent in effect (to)  ⇒ his statement was tantamount to an admission of guilt 

Word Origin

C17: basically from Anglo-French tant amunter  to amount to as much, from tant  so much + amunter to amount

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= equivalent to equal to as good as, synonymous with the same as commensurate with,

Usage examples

  • Tamsin waited, realizing that what she had just suggested was tantamount to mutiny.
    Babson, Marian, Death in Fashion (1985)
  • "Their nomination is tantamount to rewarding bigotry", he said.
    NME (New Musical Express) (2002)
  • A similar ICRC report, leaked in May, catalogued abuses at Abu Ghraib, some of which it said were " tantamount to torture".
    New Zealand Herald (2004)
  • To lose their most influential player would be tantamount to waving the white flag.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Churchill declared before the entire Cabinet that Halifax's mere mention of peace talks was tantamount to high treason.
    Martin Allen, THE HITLER-HESS DECEPTION (2003)

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