The phrase "were equivalent to" is commonly used to express that two things are equal in value, quality, or significance. However, there are many synonyms that can be used to convey the same meaning, such as "were comparable to," "were tantamount to," "were on par with," "were commensurate with," "were synonymous with," "were identical to," "were the same as," "were as good as," "were as valuable as," or "were as important as." Depending on the specific context and tone, some synonyms may be more appropriate than others. Nonetheless, having a broad range of alternatives can help add variety and depth to one's writing.