Tantamount

Meanings

1. Equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as
2. Equal in value or effect
3. Amounting to the same thing

Example Sentences

• "Refusing to vote is tantamount to accepting whatever the outcome may be."
• "The company's silence on the issue was tantamount to an admission of guilt."
• "Ignoring the environmental report was tantamount to inviting disaster."

Etymology

From Anglo-French 'tant amunter' (to amount to as much), from Old French 'tant' (so much) + 'amounter' (to amount to), from 'amont' (upward), from Latin 'ad montem' (to the mountain).

Related Words