Looking for information on the meaning of doppelganger? If so, keep reading — here’s our complete guide on the term doppelganger.
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Kevin
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April 15, 2022
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According to a recent study, the likelihood of two human beings sharing the exact facial features is less than one in one trillion. Yup, it’s true — there’s only a one in 135 chance that a single pair of doppelgangers exists on Earth, which is home to more than seven billion people.
That said, what exactly does “doppelganger” mean? Not to worry; we’ll tell you. Read on to get the scoop on the word doppelganger. By the end of this post, you should better understand our word of the day and even feel comfortable using it in a sentence!
What Is the Definition of Doppelganger?
According to many trusted English dictionaries — such as the Collins Dictionary and the Cambridge Dictionary — doppelganger (or doppelgänger) can be defined as a ghostly double or counterpart of a living person.
In simpler terms, the word doppelganger is used to describe a spiritual being that looks exactly like a living person or an individual who looks exactly like someone else, despite not being related.
What Is the Origin of Doppelganger?
Many people are under the impression that the word doppelganger is new to the English language; however, stories of doppelgangers date back to ancient myth and legend.
The idea of an evil twin or haunting ghost replica has been seen numerous times in literature and art, depicting an innate fascination with the concept — whether imaginary or real.
That said, doppelganger is derived from German, where it translates literally as a double goer or double walker. In traditional folklore, doppelgangers are usually considered spiritual, ghostly apparitions or entities rather than physical beings.
What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of the Word Doppelganger?
As we dive further and further into the meaning behind the word doppelganger, you’ll likely stumble across a few words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as doppelganger — these words are called synonyms.
Taking the time to pick up a thesaurus and learn the different antonyms and synonyms of a word helps cement the meaning into your mind, but they are also nifty little tools you can use to avoid repeating yourself in all forms of communication.
Synonyms of doppelganger include:
- Alter ego
- Carbon
- Carbon copy
- Echo
- Picture
- Spirit double
- Imposter
- Double
- Clone
- Double-walker
- Mirror image
- Counterpart
- Duplication
- Duplicate
- Evil twin
- Replica
- Ringer
- Parallel
- Spitting image
- Twin
- Retch
- Likeness
- Lookalike
- Shadow
- Dead ringer
- Living image
Antonyms of doppelganger include:
- Corporeal being
- Incongruity
- Antipodal
- Original
- Archetype
- Mismatch
- Vastly different
- Very diverse
- Prototype
- Difference
- Dissimilarity
- Antipodean
Examples of Doppelganger in a Sentence
Now it’s time to put what you’ve learned so far into practice. With the help of this article and the examples below, try quizzing yourself to see how many example sentences you can come up with on your own.
Sometimes, Jenny gets mistaken for my twin, but she’s just a doppelganger!
According to legend, crossing paths with your doppelganger is a sign of bad luck.
Did you read the trending article about doppelgangers in the Washington Post this morning?
Don’t be fooled by her doppelganger; she’s nothing but an imposter!
I thought the word doppelganger was new to the English language, but its first appearance was actually in 1796.
Joe believes everyone has at least one doppelganger in the world.
I didn’t see the resemblance, but my mom said Julia is my doppelganger.
At first, I thought I was peering into a mirror, but it was my doppelganger.
Have you ever met a doppelganger of yourself?
Bill said Mike was his doppelganger, but I know he’s really his twin.
The single mom was haunted by a doppelganger until she had her house blessed by a priest.
Examples of Alleged Doppelgängers
By now, you should have a good understanding of what the word doppelganger means. To complete our article, let’s take a look at a few famous examples of alleged doppelgangers.
Here is a shortlist list of celebrity doppelganger duos that make many fans do a double-take:
- Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester
- Jamie Pressly and Margot Robbie
- Kris Jenner and Selma Blair
- Kaia Gerber and Rachel Bilson
- Mila Kunis and Sarah Hyland
- Row Lowe and Ian Somerhalder
- Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain
- Katy Perry and Zooey Deschanel
- Zach Braff and Dax Shepard
- Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman
- Jennifer Lawrence and Helen Mirren
- Jodie Foster and Emma Corrin
- Scarlett Johansson and Amber Heard
- Hillary Duff and Victoria Pedretti
- Mckenna Grace and Kiernan Shipka
Recap
Despite originally being used to reference a type of ghost, the increasingly popular word doppelganger is now best defined as someone who looks eerily like someone else — but holds no relation whatsoever.
Derived from German doppelgänger — which literally means double-goer — doppelganger is a term that dates back to ancient myths where doppelgängers were once thought of as omens of bad luck.
Doppelgangers are quite common in literature, movies, and even TV shows. Think about the episodes you’ve seen where one of the characters has an evil brother or alter ego; these, believe it or not, are all doppelgangers.
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