"Are tantamount to" is a phrase used to convey that two things or actions are equivalent in meaning, effect, or significance. The term "tantamount" itself means equal to or essentially the same as. When referring to something being tantamount to another, it suggests that both carry comparable importance, consequences, or results.
For instance, if someone says that lying and deceit are tantamount to betrayal, they mean that the act of lying or deceiving someone is similar in its gravity and impact to the act of betraying them. The phrase emphasizes that although the actions might differ in their execution or specifics, they share the same level of seriousness or significance.
This expression is often used to indicate that one thing can be regarded as an equal substitute or an alternative to another, even if they are not exact replicas. In a legal context, for example, one might argue that refusing to testify in court is tantamount to obstructing justice because it hampers the legal process, despite the absence of a direct correlation.
"Are tantamount to" serves as a comparison tool to illustrate a strong resemblance, implying that the two entities or actions at hand are essentially identical in impact, effect, or connotation, regardless of potential differences in form, appearance, or specific details.
