If you say that one thing is tantamount to a second, more serious thing, you are emphasizing how bad, unacceptable, or unfortunate the first thing is by comparing it to the second.
[formal, emphasis]
What Bracey is saying is tantamount to heresy. [+ to]
To neglect or forget aspects of the past is tantamount to rewriting history, andanyone who has read Animal Farm knows where that can lead.
tantamount in British English
(ˈtæntəˌmaʊnt)
adjective
(postpositive; foll byto)
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
tantamount in American English
(ˈtæntəˌmaʊnt)
adjective
having equal force, value, effect, etc.; equal or equivalent (to)
Word origin
< Anglo-Fr tant amunter, to amount to as much < OFr tant (< L tantus, so much: see tandem) + amonter (see amount)
Examples of 'tantamount' in a sentence
tantamount
In many countries, the frank assessments of their weaknesses and foibles will be seen as tantamount to espionage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
tantamount
British English: tantamount ADJECTIVE
If you say that one thing is tantamount to a second, more serious thing, you are emphasizing how bad, unacceptable, or unfortunate the first thing is by comparing it to the second.