be tantamount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be tantamount" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that one thing is equivalent to or has the same effect as another. Example: "In legal terms, failing to report the incident can be seen as being tantamount to admitting guilt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That might be tantamount to giving up.

The Economist

Seamless elegance would be tantamount to erasure.

The New Yorker

Buying in mercenaries would be tantamount to privatising national security.

Independent

It would be tantamount to unilateral partisan disarmament.

The New Yorker

Serial extensions would be tantamount to a permanent extension.

The New York Times

Failure to do so would be tantamount to gross negligence.

Independent

Self-acceptance would be tantamount to self-neglect.

The Guardian

Wouldn't that be tantamount to dancing on a mass grave?

The New York Times - Arts

Returning it to the market would be tantamount to murder.

The New York Times - Food

That would be "tantamount to double jeopardy," he said.

The New York Times

In movement terms, it would be tantamount to lying".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be tantamount" when you want to emphasize that something is essentially the same as something else in terms of effect or consequence. It adds a tone of gravity or significance to the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "be tantamount" when the situations are merely similar but not truly equivalent in effect or outcome. The phrase implies a near-perfect level of equivalence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be tantamount" functions as a linking verb phrase, asserting a strong equivalence or practical identity between two entities or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests that the consequences or implications are essentially the same. This is evidenced by the examples provided, where various actions are described as being virtually equal in their effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be tantamount" is a versatile expression used to assert a strong equivalence between two things, frequently found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI highlights, it conveys a sense of near-identity in effect or outcome and should be employed when the situations are practically the same. When writing, remember to consider the degree of equivalence you wish to convey and choose "be tantamount" when you want to suggest that two things are virtually identical in their implications or consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be equivalent to

Focuses on the equal value or measure between two things.

amount to the same thing as

Emphasizes that the end result or effect is identical.

be synonymous with

Highlights that the two terms or actions are interchangeable in meaning.

be on a par with

Suggests a level of equality in terms of status or quality.

be as good as

Indicates that something is virtually the same in effect or outcome.

constitute

Implies that something forms or composes a particular thing or action.

equate to

Directly links two things as being the same or having the same result.

be comparable to

Highlights the similarities between two things, implying a near equivalence.

approximate to

Suggests a close resemblance, though not necessarily an exact match.

correspond to

Indicates a direct relationship or similarity in function or character.

FAQs

How can I use "be tantamount" in a sentence?

The phrase "be tantamount" is used to suggest that something is virtually equivalent to something else. For example, "Refusing to cooperate with the investigation would "be tantamount" to admitting guilt".

What phrases are similar to "be tantamount"?

Several phrases share a similar meaning with "be tantamount", including "be equivalent to", "amount to the same thing as", and "be synonymous with".

Is it correct to say "is tantamount to"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "is tantamount to". The verb "be" can be conjugated to "is", "are", "was", or "were" depending on the subject and tense of the sentence.

What is the difference between "be tantamount to" and "be similar to"?

"Be tantamount to" implies a much stronger degree of equivalence than "be similar to". While "be similar to" suggests a resemblance, "be tantamount to" asserts that the two things are practically the same in effect or outcome.