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Definitions

apples and oranges

ADJECTIVE
unlike
Synonyms
STRONG
dissimilar
WEAK
clashing conflicting contradictory contrary contrasted discordant disharmonious disparate dissonant distant distinct divergent diverse far cry from heterogeneous hostile incompatible incongruous inconsistent mismatched not alike offbeat opposed opposite poles apart separate unalike unequal unrelated variant various weird
Antonyms
WEAK
alike like related same similar

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That’s why comparing stocks’ past returns to Social Security’s risk-free, inflation-adjusted payments isn’t apples and oranges.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Colleges and universities may object that I’m comparing apples and oranges.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

"One has to be careful not to compare apples and oranges" he told the BBC.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024

"It's like mixing apples and oranges in the juicer then complaining that the drink doesn't taste like an apple, so it couldn't have been an apple going in," says Herculano-Houzel.

From Salon • May 4, 2024

It’s like cooking: If you put in sugar and apples and oranges and lemons, when you eat it it’s going to be sweet.

From "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago" by LeAlan Jones

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.