- Definition & Examples
- When & How to Use Synonyms
- Quiz
I. What is a Synonym?
A synonym (sin—uh-nim) is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. When words or phrases have the same meaning, we say that they are synonymous of each other. The term synonym comes from a combination of the Ancient Greek syn, meaning with, and onoma, meaning “name.” Synonyms are regular and essential parts of everyday language that we use almost without thinking. They come in all parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and so on. What’s more, synonyms are so important that there is a whole reference work dedicated to them, called a thesaurus—it’s a dictionary of synonyms!
II. Examples of Synonyms
Here are some synonyms of words you use every day:
- Bad: awful, terrible, horrible
- Good: fine, excellent, great
- Hot: burning, fiery, boiling
- Cold: chilly, freezing, frosty
- Easy: Simple, effortless, straightforward
- Hard: difficult, challenging, tough
- Big: large, huge, giant
- Small: tiny, little, mini
Now, read the three sentences below:
- The small child was quickly eating a cold ice cream cone, which gave him a bad headache.
- The little kid was rapidly gobbling a frosty ice cream cone, which gave him an awful headache.
- The youngster was speedily consuming a freezing ice cream cone, which gave him a terrible headache.
As you can see, the three sentences above share the same situation, but, Sentences 2 and 3 paint a better picture because they use synonyms for some of the dull words in Sentence 1. Words like “rapidly,” “gobbling,” “awful,” and “terrible” are much more descriptive than “quickly,” “eating,” and “bad”—they have the same meanings as Sentence 1, but stronger connotations.
III. Types of Synonyms
Synonyms exist as parts of speech. Here are some examples:
Verbs
- Teach, instruct, educate
- Seek, search, look for
Nouns
- Teacher, instructor, educator
- Test, exam, assessment
Adjective
- Smart, intelligent, clever
- Dumb, stupid, slow
Adverb
- Very, really, extremely
- Quietly, silently, without a sound
IV. Importance of Synonyms
Since word choice is everything in language (probably the most crucial part!), the importance of synonyms is beyond measure. Synonyms make language more interesting, more meaningful, and more relevant. They have a huge, central role in word choice for both prose and poetry. In fact, you could argue that poetry wouldn’t even exist without synonyms—one of the main reasons we use them is to be descriptive, creative, and expressive, and poetry relies on those three things. Imagine what writing, reading, and speaking would be like if there were only one word for everything! Language would be boring, and would have no room for creativity.
The way words are chosen and used is often what defines a piece of literature; so, synonyms allow all authors to develop their own styles and voices when creating their works. Another main reason we use synonyms is because words often share the same meanings but have different connotations (a word’s implied meaning). For example, you might say “the soup’s aroma was in the air,” which makes it sound delicious, but “the soup’s odor was in the air” makes it sound terrible. So, an author chooses a synonym based on its positive, negative, or neutral connotation. This helps writers say what they mean, and how they mean it.
V. Examples of Synonyms in Literature
Example 1
As mentioned, poetry probably wouldn’t exist without synonyms. In the poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” William Wordsworth describes an afternoon walk that was particularly special for him. In the selection below, he uses synonyms to help his readers imagine the scene that he saw:
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Here, Wordsworth uses the synonyms “crowd” and “host” to express that he saw a large number of daffodils, which made them much more magnificent. It’s a technique he is using to emphasize the beauty of his experience. By using two different words with the same meaning, he is able to paint a better picture with his words.
Example 2
Synonyms are very important for creative, descriptive writing because authors choose certain words to fit their style and tone. In the poem “The Eagle,” Lord Tennyson uses synonyms for common words to create this detailed imagery:
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
Tennyson’s descriptive words paint a picture for the audience. But, if you remove the synonyms he uses, it would be much less picturesque. For example, he uses “azure” instead of “blue” to give you a better idea of the color of the sky, and “crag” which sounds rougher than “cliff.” Synonyms also make the poem more expressive; for instance, he uses “lonely” instead of “isolated”—both words have almost the same meaning, but “lonely” usually describes a human feeling, and “isolated” usually describes a place. As you can see, Tennyson carefully chose his words with purpose.
VI. Examples of Synonyms in Pop Culture
Example 1
A popular advertising technique in today’s culture is to imply that a brand’s product is synonymous with the product itself. For example, we might say bleach is synonymous with Clorox, cola is synonymous with Coca-Cola, or Scotch tape is synonymous with adhesive tape. Foster’s beer uses this type of advertising in their campaign called “How to Speak Australian,” as in the following commercial:
Fosters | How to Speak Australian | Wireless
Foster’s main tagline is “Foster’s: Australian for Beer.” They are “teaching” the audience that in the Australian language, “Foster’s” and “beer” have the same meaning. But, the joke is that “Australian” is just English, which already has a word for beer. So, Foster’s advertising method is to suggest to viewers that in Australia, the words “beer” and “Foster’s” are synonyms that can be used interchangeably.
VII. Related Terms
Antonym
An antonym is a word or phrase’s opposite meaning, and the opposite of a synonym.
VIII. Conclusion
In conclusion, synonyms are an essential part of the English language that we could not live without, in writing or speaking. They are the most powerful type of descriptive tool, making them an important part of both prose and poetry alike. Synonyms provide freedom for word choice and allow authors to choose words with the right connotation to fit their style and serve their purpose.
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Paul Mazzola
What is a synonym?
A synonym is a word that has the same meaning as another word. Synonyms can be two or more words, or even complete expressions, in the same language. While they may have other meanings, at least two of their meanings are similar or identical.
For example, the word “walk” has synonyms like “stroll,” “amble,” “saunter,” or “go.” – These words have an identical meaning to the word “walk.”
Near synonyms
Words that are similar but not identical are called near synonyms. Near synonyms move away from its original meaning of the original word. “Walk” does not quite mean the same thing as “skip,” “hike,” “trek,” “plod,” or “trudge.”
The nuance, or very slight difference, in words adds to mood and author’s purpose.
Think of the different moods these sentences evoke:
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The little boy skipped down the lane, licking his lollipop.
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The brave woman trekked across the mountain range carrying the medicine, a hero’s journey.
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Just before dawn, the old man trudged down the muddy road to his factory job.
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The loving couple sauntered hand in hand through the quiet park.
In each case, we could replace the verb with “walked,” but the sentence’s energy and mood would be lost.
Some words have opposite meanings of other words. These are called antonyms.
Synonyms examples
Examples of synonyms in English are easy to find in online resources, a printed thesaurus, or your own reader’s log. Almost every word has a synonym or near synonym.
These are examples for some of the most common words in the English language and the synonym list:
| Word | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| Man | male, guy, gentleman, fellow, dude, brother, father, son |
| Woman | female, gal, lady, mother, sister, daughter, girl |
| Child | baby, infant, juvenile, kid, minor, toddler, teen, preteen, youth, youngster |
| Problem | complication, dilemma, dispute, obstacle, trouble, issue |
| Number | figure, sum, statistic |
| Look | consider, glance, notice, peer, read, see, stare |
| Make | cause, compose, form, shape, generate, prepare, manufacture, produce |
| Know | appreciate, learn, have, notice, perceive, see, recognize, realize |
The synonyms list for each of the different words allows you to build unique sentences in your writing. These synonyms all have a similar meaning to the original word.
Do all words have synonyms?
Not every word or phrase has a synonym. Words that are simple and have obvious word origins are often called primitives, and they generally have synonyms. Technical and scientific words are often unique:
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Anemometer
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Gastroenterologist
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Pyroclastic
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Sphygmomanometer
Still, some primitives have no synonyms. You would be hard-pressed to replace monosyllabic words like “the,” and “be,” or polysyllabic words like “demonstrable” with synonyms.
How to find synonyms
The best tool for finding organized lists of synonyms is a thesaurus that lists words by synonyms, related words, and related concepts.
A dictionary gives the word’s meaning; a thesaurus lists synonyms and near synonyms for all forms of a word (verb, noun, phrase).
For example, the Merriam-Webster English dictionary might define “miserly” this way:
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a miser; marked by grasping meanness and penuriousness
A thesaurus will give these synonyms of “miserly:”
cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, and ungenerous
By reading both the definition and the synonyms, you have a much better understanding of the full meaning and nuance of “miserly:”
A great way to find synonyms is by keeping a reading log as you read a book. Write into the log any new word you encounter. Then look up the word’s meaning in a dictionary to understand the author’s intent.
Follow up by looking up synonyms for the word. You will broaden your grasp of language and the author’s purpose by doing this.
Multiple meanings and synonyms
Two words can have the same meaning, but one word can have multiple different meanings. Two words with the same spelling and punctuation but different meanings are called homonyms or homophones.
The English word “set” has the most meanings in English; at 430 distinct definitions.
Among those 430 meanings, some senses of “set” will have synonyms, and some will not.
First, decide which form of the word you seek a synonym for; noun, verb, adjective, phrase, etc. Then decide which meaning you intend:
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Set as a transitive verb: to place with great care or purpose (“She set down the antique vase.”) or to cause the start of (“The little boy set a fire in the field.”)
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Set as a noun: a number of things of the same kind or that belong together (“He wanted a model train set.”), or the background and designs of a stage show (“The set behind the actors was beautifully designed and painted.”)
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Set as an adjective: reluctant to change (“The old woman is set in her ways.”) or fixed by authority or agreement (“The royal wedding date is set.”)
For the particular word form and meaning (its connotation), you can then search for synonyms and near synonyms of only that meaning:
These example sentences show that using a synonym for “set” as a noun in a sentence where it is an adjective could lead to unintentional weirdness:
Thoroughly understand the use of the original word before deploying a synonym in your writing.
Why use synonyms in your writing?
Use synonyms in your writing to avoid repeating the same word too many times in passages unless the word is so basic it usually is not noticed. Such words as “said,” “be,” “a,” “the,” and “I” do not need synonyms because most readers move right through them.
Using synonyms keeps your text engaging and helps avoid monotony.
When using synonyms, be sure to match the connotation of your synonym to the writing style.
For example, flowery and emotionally charged words are not appropriate for academic papers or written instructions. Complex, cold or technical words are not appropriate for casual or friendly writing.
The word “man” could easily grow tiresome in a passage like this:
“The wiser man offered to help the younger man as they set about cleaning out the cheap old man’s shabby old house. The younger man took down the old man’s books from the shelves, while the huskier man boxed up the meager pots and pans.”
We can liven up the writing just by using synonyms for “man” like this:
“The wiser gentleman offered to help the brash youth as they set about cleaning out the miser’s shabby old house. The teen took down the recluse’s books from the shelves, while the huskier guy boxed up the meager pots and pans.”
Another way to liven up your writing is through the use of a metonym.
A metonym is a scientific name for a word, name, or expression that is more general or loosely related to something else. For example, “The Big Apple” is a metonym or alternative name for New York City.
synonym
/ˈsɪnəˌnɪm/
noun
plural
synonyms
synonym
/ˈsɪnəˌnɪm/
noun
plural
synonyms
Britannica Dictionary definition of SYNONYM
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1
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a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language
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“Small” and “little” are synonyms.
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Can you think of a synonym for “original”?
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“Small” is a synonym of “little.”
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opposite antonym
2
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a word, name, or phrase that very strongly suggests a particular idea, quality, etc.
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He is a tyrant whose name has become a synonym for oppression.
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A synonym is a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in certain contexts. The adjective form is synonymous. Synonymy is the relationship that exists between words with closely related meanings. The word comes from the Greek meaning «same name.» Contrast with an antonym. A synonym for the term synonym is poecilonym.
Key Takeaways
- English has gathered many words from different languages, leading to synonyms.
- There is academic debate about whether two different words can truly be the same.
- Near-synonyms are very close in meaning.
Synonyms occur in a language in different contexts, such as formal and informal language, like you’d use in conversation vs. a business or academic paper. Also, some synonyms have slightly different connotations when they’re used, even though they might mean the same thing. For example, look at the differences between the terms for money: moolah, greenbacks, cash, currency, and revenues, which all occur in different contexts and levels of formality. Synonyms may also be nested inside one another, which is referred to as a kangaroo word.
Also, English has inherited and borrowed many words from other languages and kept some duplicates. (It’s also why some words have sound alike or don’t spell out as they sound, but those are additional topics.)
Synonyms saw a rise in the English language during the Norman conquest when the ruling class spoke Norman French and the lower classes continued to speak Old English. As a result, the Norman-originated word people exists alongside the Saxon-derived folk.
«The consequence of extensive borrowing from French, Latin, and Greek throughout the history of English is the creation of groups of synonyms occupying different registers (contexts within which they may be used): freedom and liberty; happiness and felicity; depth and profundity.»
— author Simon Horobin
«Insights into the relationships between such synonyms can be gleaned by comparing their uses in forming new words. The Old English word bird gives us a term of abuse, birdbrain, Latin avis is the source of more technical words such as aviation and aviary, while Greek ornith is the root of exclusively scientific formations, such as ornithology.»
— «How English Became English.» Oxford University Press, 2016
Can Two Words Be Truly Synonymous?
There is some debate as to whether two words can truly be synonymous. If they’re different words, they must mean something slightly different or have contexts where you’d use one or the other, the reasoning goes, which makes them only nearly synonymous but not truly the same thing.
Two words just can’t be completely interchangeable in all occurrences. When would two words have all of exactly the same meanings?
«The search for synonyms is a well-established classroom exercise, but it is as well to remember that lexemes rarely (if ever) have exactly the same meaning. … There are usually stylistic, regional, emotional, or other differences to consider. … Two lexemes might be synonymous in one sentence but different in another: range and selection are synonyms in What a nice __ of furnishings, but not in There’s the mountain __.
— David Crystal in «How Language Works.» Overlook, 2006
When a language does have two different words that mean the exact same thing, oftentimes one will stop being used, as it’s unnecessary, or it will take on a different meaning over time. And two synonyms used in different contexts, by definition, can’t be exactly the same.
At best, the theory relates, that the closest absolute synonymity can get is a technical word for something and a common name used in conversation for the same thing or dialect differences, such as between British English and American English (lorry vs. truck, boot vs. trunk.)
However, if we look at the definition of synonymous, that is, words meaning nearly the same thing rather than exactly the same thing in every situation, the theory that synonymity is impossible might just not hold up.
This aspect of English—having words that have different meanings in different contexts, as well as having doublets and triplets—is also a result of the language having inherited and borrowed so many words from different languages.
The doublets frail and fragile came to English from the same Latin root fragilis, but one came from French and one from Latin directly. The triplets real, royal, and regal came from Anglo-Norman, French, and Latin, notes Britannica.
Near-Synonyms
Near-synonyms would be just that—words that are closely related as to just about be interchangeable but have different connotations, attitudes, or implications that you’d want to be aware of, making one word more appropriate for a context than another. Anything you can find in a thesaurus has a list of near-synonyms galore. For example, lie finds falsehood, fib, misrepresentation, and untruth, each with different nuances and shades of meaning that each can give to the context it’s used in.
It can be tricky when translating between languages, as you need to know the implications and connotations for the word in the original language and make sure you pick up those nuances in the destination language.
The Lighter Side of Synonyms
Paul Dickson’s book «Intoxerated» claims, «The English language includes more synonyms for ‘drunk’ than for any other word.» Here are just a few of the 2,964 synonyms for drunk in his book:
- Blind
- Blitzed
- Blotto
- Bombed
- Buzzed
- Hammered
- High
- Inebriated
- Loaded
- Looped
- Merry
- Messed up
- Off the wagon
- Pickled
- Pifflicated
- Plastered
- Ripped
- Sloshed
- Smashed
- Snockered
- Soused
- Stewed
- Three sheets to the wind
- Tight
- Tipsy
- Trashed
- Wasted
- Wrecked
—»Intoxerated: The Definitive Drinker’s Dictionary.» Melville House, 2012
With the vast nature of the English language, it’s natural that some words have overlapping meanings, or one word may have a very similar meaning to another word. And while these overlapping words are already a lot, you might also be confused about what to call these alike meaning words.
The word ‘synonyms’ is the most preferred way to describe two words that mean the same. ‘Synonym’ is straightforward with its meaning that when two words are synonymous, it means two words have almost or the same exact definition. Thus, making it the most appropriate word in any context.
Synonyms
Calling two words ‘synonymous’ is one way to indicate that two words mean the same thing. The word ‘synonym’ also follows an equal definition. However, it would be good to note that not all synonyms exactly mean the same, and there is still a most appropriate word for any context.
For example, ‘thin’ and ‘narrow’ maybe synonymous in a way. However, it seems off to describe a person as narrow or a road as thin. In that way, even if the two words mean the same, there is still a more preferred or appropriate word in a given context. It’s best to describe the road as narrow and a person as thin or skinny. But another synonym for the two words would be slim or slender, which we can use to describe either a person or a road.
Words Alike
Describing two words as ‘alike’ is another way of saying that the two are synonymous. In other contexts, it could also mean that two things are similar in a way. Many also prefer to use ‘alike’ as it still means similar, but does not imply exact duplicates.
The word ‘alike’ is also versatile as it is not only used to describe two words, but other things that are similar to each other. In the context of words or synonyms, we say ‘brave’ and ‘courageous’ are two words alike. But, we can also say ‘both of you look alike’ or ‘the two of them dress alike’ to express similarity in visuals and fashion, respectively. Thus, saying two words are alike is another way of saying they mean the same thing.
Similar Words
The words ‘alike’ and ‘similar’ are synonyms, and in this context, they mean the exact same thing. Like ‘alike,’ describing two words as similar means that the two words have definitions that are almost the same or in some way alike, but it does not imply exactly the same.
The only difference between using ‘similar’ and ‘alike’ is the grammar rules or how we structure them in a sentence. We usually say that two words are alike, but when we use ‘similar,’ we say that the two are similar words. So, we say, ‘beautiful and pretty are words alike,’ but we say ‘beautiful and pretty are similar words.’ Despite this difference, the two phrases and words are still synonymous and mean the exact same.
Likewise
‘Likewise’ is another synonym for ‘alike’ and ‘similar,’ and these three words mean that two words are alike or in the same way. Saying that two words are likewise is like saying that one word is also another. However, saying there are limitations in saying two words are likewise.
Saying that two words are likewise may imply that the two words mean exactly the same. For example, saying that ‘long and tall are likewise’ is the same as saying ‘long is also tall’ and implies that the two are interchangeable. However, saying that a person is tall may not have the same meaning as saying a person is long (this may also be totally improper and inappropriate). So, it’s best to use ‘likewise’ only for words that mean the exact same.
Parallel Words
Describing two words as parallel is another way of saying the two are synonymous. However, there are limitations to saying this, as it implies that the two are exactly the same or their meanings are exact duplicates of one another, just like how parallel lines are.
The limitation in using the term ‘parallel’ is that not all synonymous words may exactly be the same as another. It means that they are similar but not exactly parallel. For example, ‘happy and joyful are parallel words,’ meaning they are exactly the same in this particular context. However, you can’t say ‘nerdy and smart are parallel words’ because the two words may not mean exactly the same. Smart may be a compliment, while nerdy may come off as something offensive.
Equal/Equivalent
Like the word ‘parallel,’ using the word ‘equal’ or ‘equivalent’ implies that two words mean exactly the same thing. In Math, equal or equivalent terms are usually interchangeable in positions. In the same way, saying words are equal implies that they are interchangeable with each other.
Using the term equal or equivalent may not be applicable in all cases, as not all synonyms are always interchangeable in all contexts. For example, the word ugly and horrible may be equals or equivalents when describing a person’s looks. However, ugly is not an appropriate equivalent of horrible when describing the taste of a food.
Describing two words are the ‘same’ is a graver version of saying two words are ‘similar’ or ‘alike.’ Unlike the two latter words, the word ‘same’ emphasizes or implies that the two given words are exactly the same. It’s another way of saying the two are equal or parallel.
However, describing something as ‘the same’ is not always applicable and varies depending on the context. In one context where two words are interchangeable, ‘Dirty and filthy are the same’ for example, here, ‘same’ works. However, there are also synonymous and similar words that aren’t exactly the same and are not interchangeable with each other.
Identical Words
Describing two words as ‘identical’ strongly implies that the two are exactly the same. A simple analogy for this is that, identical twins are usually twins that are almost exact duplicates of each other. In the same way, identical words imply they are duplicates or totally the same.
However, not all words are always the same. So, using ‘identical’ actually needs more caution, especially since it may give off a wrong meaning that two words are precisely the same but may not be the case all the time. For example saying ‘charm and beauty are identical words’ may be true for some individuals or in a given context, but it may not be the case for others or other contexts.
Interchangeable Words
Saying two words are interchangeable directly means that the words are synonymous and interchangeable. It simply means that you could use both words in the given context. Given this, though, we only use it for two words that are precisely the same and appropriate for the said context.
For example, saying that ‘beautiful and pretty are interchangeable’ directly implies that you can use either of the two words in your sentence or the context you want to use it. However, we only use ‘interchangeable’ for two words that are precisely the same and interchangeable with each other, without any change of meaning.
Redundant
We say words are redundant when they are put in the same sentence but mean the same thing. ‘Redundant’ actually means exceeding what is necessary, meaning there are more than the needed words to describe what you want to do so. In the same way, one can redact redundant words.
An example of redundancy is saying, ‘she was shy and bashful during the first day.’ Here, ‘shy’ and ‘bashful’ may be redundant as they mean the same thing. While keeping the sentence as is works also, one may also remove redundancy by keeping only one of the two words, and discarding or redacting the other.
Tautologous
Saying a phrase is tautologous is another way of saying that it is redundant, implying that there is an unneeded repetition of ideas in a sentence. Though these words are usually redundant, there are different tautologous phrases that we often use in everyday conversations.
An example of a tautologous phrase would be ‘adequate enough.’ Essentially, adequate and enough have the same meaning of being as much as required or needed. So, putting ‘adequate’ and ‘enough’ together may seem redundant, but many speakers still use it in various contexts and daily conversations.
Pleonasm
Pleonasm is more of a linguistic style and expression. It is using redundant phrases and words, more words than necessary, to emphasize meaning and add more style. The word pleonasm, in it’s Latin origin, already means to be excessive, and so pleonasm also means being excessive in redundant phrases.
An example of pleonasm is saying ‘burning fire.’ Saying ‘burning’ and ‘fire’ becomes redundant, as saying ‘fire’ in itself already means it is burning. Another would be the phrase ‘hear with my own ears,’ which becomes redundant as the ears is the only way one can hear.
You may also like: 10 Terms For Two Words That Contradicts Each Other
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
Synonymy relates to the topic of semantics, which concerns the study of meaning in language. The term synonymy originates from the Greek words sún and onoma, which mean with and name.
Synonymy in semantics
Synonymy in semantics refers to a word with the same (or nearly the same) meaning as another word.
Let’s see if you’ve grasped the concept of synonymy by finding two synonymous words in these sentences:
- Today’s weather is awful.
- Today’s weather is terrible.
The first sentence uses awful to describe the weather and the second uses terrible. Although both sentences use different words, they have the same meaning: bad. In other words, awful and terrible are synonyms of bad.
Important note: Be careful of the slight differences between the synonyms. Not every synonymous word fits in all situations, eg small isn’t exactly the same as tiny. You have to consider some factors, including the context, the relationship between words, register, and regional variation, among others. Take a look at the ‘types of synonymy’ section for more details.
To test whether two words are synonyms (or synonymous), we can use a substitution method: if one word can be replaced by another without changing the meaning/sense of the sentence, the two words are synonyms. The opposite of synonymy is antonymy. Synonymy can be found across all parts of speech: in nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.
A ≈ B
Synonym examples
Here are some examples of synonyms:
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big-large
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small — little
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easy — effortless
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difficult — hard
Let’s put the synonyms into a sentence and use the substitution method:
1a. You have a big house.
1b. You have a large house.
By substituting big with large, we can keep the sentence’s meaning (the description of the house) in a similar degree/sense as the original sentence.
2a. He had a difficult decision to make.
2b. He had a hard decision to make.
The same as before, the substitution of difficult with hard does not change the sentence’s meaning (the description of the decision).
Synonymy in literature
Synonymy is one of the literary devices in which a word is replaced with another word with a similar meaning, to avoid repetition.
Here are some examples of synonymy in literature:
If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand something. I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time. It’s because he wants to stay inside.
— Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960.
Instead of repeating the word one kind, Lee chooses its synonym: alike, to relay a similar meaning to ‘very similar’. The same thing happens in the case of stayed shut up in the house and stay inside. Using synonymy, Lee enriches the prose by avoiding repetition while keeping the meaning similar in both cases.
For thee I watch, whilst thou dost wake elsewhere.
— William Shakespeare, Sonnet 61, 1609.
Wake is a synonym of watch. Here, wake means ‘to stay awake to watch or tend’ (Oxford English Dictionary). Notice the slightly richer sense of see in watch compared to wake, yet the two words carry a similar meaning. By adopting synonymy, Shakespeare enhances the quality of the words he uses.
I love your daughter fondly, dearly, disinterestedly, devotedly. If ever there were love in the world, I love her.
— Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859.
Fondly and devotedly are synonyms that describe ‘a way to show great love for somebody/something’ (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary). Using two different words with a similar meaning, Dickens describes how strong the character’s feelings are (how I love your daughter) without repeating the word.
Types of synonyms
Now that we’ve looked at the concept, let’s examine the two types of synonymy:
-
Absolute synonyms
-
Partial synonyms
Absolute synonyms
With absolute synonyms, the meaning and function of the synonymous words are exactly the same. If you have a pair of absolutely synonymous words, you can substitute the words in every possible context (semantic, grammatical, sociolinguistic, etc.) with its synonym. This condition is very rare because, usually, two words that refer to the same meaning/object can’t co-exist. An example of an absolute synonym is airport and aerodrome. The former is what we commonly use nowadays, whereas the latter is an old-fashioned word.
Partial synonyms
Partial synonyms, on the other hand, occur when words have very closely related meanings. The meanings are not exactly the same, only partially, but close enough to relay the same message. Partial synonyms can differ in their collocation, register, and regional/social variation.
Have a look at these examples of partial synonyms:
| 1. We have a big problem. | Although gigantic is synonymous with big, the word combination of gigantic problem (1c) doesn’t sound natural. This is what’s called a collocation (a pairing of words with a high level of frequency). |
| a. We have a large problem. | |
| b. We have a huge problem. | |
| c. We have a gigantic problem. |
| 2a. The tickets can only be bought online. | Generally, buy and purchase mean ‘to obtain something by paying money for it’ (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary). However, the two words differ in their register. Buy is considered a general term, whereas purchase is often used in a more formal context. |
| 2 B. The tickets can only be purchased online. |
| 3a. It’s been a very chilly autumn this year. |
Both autumn and fall mean ‘the season of the year between summer and winter.’ But, autumn is Commonly used in British English, while fall is used in American English. They differ in regional/social variety. |
| 3b. It’s been a very chilly fall this year. |
Synonymy and homonymy — what’s the difference?
Synonymous words are words that carry similar meanings (meaning 1 is similar to meaning 2 and meaning 3). Homonymous words (homonymy) are words that are pronounced the same or spelt the same (or both), but their meanings are dissimilar.
Important to note: Homonym is a broader term for homophone (words that sound the same but have different meanings) and homograph (words that are spelt the same but have different meanings).
Synonyms have similar meanings but homonyms have different meanings.
Synonymy and polysemy — what’s the difference?
When a set of different words carries a similar meaning it is called synonymy. When a single word has several meanings (word form 1 has meaning 1 and meaning 2), it is called polysemy.
Synonymy — similar meanings: wing — extension & section.
- They are building a new wing for the maternity department.
- They are building a new extension for the maternity department.
Even though the word wing is replaced with extension, we still get the same information about ‘a new section of the hospital is currently being constructed and it is for the maternity department’. The meaning of extension isn’t exactly the same as wing , but similar.
- My room is on the west wing.
- My room is on the west section (of the building).
The same explanation can also be found here. We still get the same information about where my room is: on the west side of the building.
Polysemy — multiple meanings: wing — animal parts for flying & a section of a building.
-
They are building a new wing for the maternity department.
The meaning of wing in this sentence refers to ‘a section of building’ and not ‘animal parts for flying’.
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The bird’s wing is broken.
Here, the meaning of wing is about the ‘animal parts for flying’ and not ‘a section of a building’.
Synonymy vs. Polysemy
- In synonymy, you can substitute a word with its similar meaning and the sense/meaning of the sentence doesn’t change. A is similar to B .
- Synonyms are usually used as a means of avoiding word repetition. However, be careful of the slightly different meanings of synonymous words. Always be mindful of the context and valency of the sentence.
- Polysemy isn’t about word substitution. Because a single polysemic word has many meanings (A means B and C) , it can cause ambiguity. It is often used for wordplay or for creating “hidden” meanings.
Synonymy — Key takeaways
- Synonymy is a linguistic term for words with similar meanings.
- If you replace one word with its synonym, the meaning/sense of the sentence doesn’t change. You can test synonymy by using the substitution method.
- There are two types of synonymy: Absolute synonyms, when the meaning and function of the words is exactly the same, and partial synonyms, when the meaning and function of the words is only partially the same. This may depend on the collocation, register, and regional/social variety of the words.
- Synonymy features words with similar meanings, while homonymy has words with different meaning but have the same pronunciation or spelling or both.
- Synonymy involves words with similar meanings, while polysemy is words with multiple meanings did create wordplay.
This article is about the general meaning of «synonym». For other uses, see Synonym (disambiguation).
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words begin, start, commence, and initiate are all synonyms of one another: they are synonymous. The standard test for synonymy is substitution: one form can be replaced by another in a sentence without changing its meaning. Words are considered synonymous in only one particular sense: for example, long and extended in the context long time or extended time are synonymous, but long cannot be used in the phrase extended family. Synonyms with exactly the same meaning share a seme or denotational sememe, whereas those with inexactly similar meanings share a broader denotational or connotational sememe and thus overlap within a semantic field. The former are sometimes called cognitive synonyms and the latter, near-synonyms,[2] plesionyms[3] or poecilonyms.[4]
LexicographyEdit
Some lexicographers claim that no synonyms have exactly the same meaning (in all contexts or social levels of language) because etymology, orthography, phonic qualities, connotations, ambiguous meanings, usage, and so on make them unique. Different words that are similar in meaning usually differ for a reason: feline is more formal than cat; long and extended are only synonyms in one usage and not in others (for example, a long arm is not the same as an extended arm). Synonyms are also a source of euphemisms.
Metonymy can sometimes be a form of synonymy: the White House is used as a synonym of the administration in referring to the U.S. executive branch under a specific president.[5] Thus, a metonym is a type of synonym, and the word metonym is a hyponym of the word synonym.[citation needed]
The analysis of synonymy, polysemy, hyponymy, and hypernymy is inherent to taxonomy and ontology in the information science senses of those terms.[6] It has applications in pedagogy and machine learning, because they rely on word-sense disambiguation.[7]
EtymologyEdit
The word is borrowed from Latin synōnymum, in turn borrowed from Ancient Greek synōnymon (συνώνυμον), composed of sýn (σύν ‘together, similar, alike’) and —ōnym— (-ωνυμ-), a form of onoma (ὄνομα ‘name’).[8]
SourcesEdit
Synonyms are often some from the different strata making up a language. For example, in English, Norman French superstratum words and Old English substratum words continue to coexist.[9] Thus, today we have synonyms like the Norman-derived people, liberty and archer, and the Saxon-derived folk, freedom and bowman. For more examples, see the list of Germanic and Latinate equivalents in English.
Loanwords are another rich source of synonyms, often from the language of the dominant culture of a region. Thus, most European languages have borrowed from Latin and ancient Greek, especially for technical terms, but the native terms continue to be used in non-technical contexts. In East Asia, borrowings from Chinese in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese often double native terms. In Islamic cultures, Arabic and Persian are large sources of synonymous borrowings.
For example, in Turkish, kara and siyah both mean ‘black’, the former being a native Turkish word, and the latter being a borrowing from Persian. In Ottoman Turkish, there were often three synonyms: water can be su (Turkish), âb (Persian), or mâ (Arabic): «such a triad of synonyms exists in Ottoman for every meaning, without exception». As always with synonyms, there are nuances and shades of meaning or usage.[10]
In English, similarly, we often have Latin (L) and Greek (Gk) terms synonymous with Germanic ones: thought, notion (L), idea (Gk); ring, circle (L), cycle (Gk). English often uses the Germanic term only as a noun, but has Latin and Greek adjectives: hand, manual (L), chiral (Gk); heat, thermal (L), caloric (Gk). Sometimes the Germanic term has become rare, or restricted to special meanings: tide, time/temporal, chronic.[11]
Many bound morphemes in English are borrowed from Latin and Greek and are synonyms for native words or morphemes: fish, pisci- (L), ichthy- (Gk).
Another source of synonyms is coinages, which may be motivated by linguistic purism. Thus, the English word foreword was coined to replace the Romance preface. In Turkish, okul was coined to replace the Arabic-derived mektep and mederese, but those words continue to be used in some contexts.[12]
UsesEdit
Synonyms often express a nuance of meaning or are used in different registers of speech or writing.
Different technical fields may appropriate synonyms for specific technical meanings.
Some writers avoid repeating the same word in close proximity, and prefer to use synonyms: this is called elegant variation. Many modern style guides criticize this.
ExamplesEdit
Synonyms can be any part of speech, as long as both words belong to the same part of speech. Examples:
- noun: drink and beverage
- verb: buy and purchase
- adjective: big and large
- adverb: quickly and speedily
- preposition: on and upon
Synonyms are defined with respect to certain senses of words: pupil as the aperture in the iris of the eye is not synonymous with student. Similarly, he expired means the same as he died, yet my passport has expired cannot be replaced by my passport has died.
A thesaurus or synonym dictionary lists similar or related words; these are often, but not always, synonyms.[13]
- The word poecilonym is a rare synonym of the word synonym. It is not entered in most major dictionaries and is a curiosity or piece of trivia for being an autological word because of its meta quality as a synonym of synonym.
- Antonyms are words with opposite or nearly opposite meanings. For example: hot ↔ cold, large ↔ small, thick ↔ thin, synonym ↔ antonym
- Hypernyms and hyponyms are words that refer to, respectively, a general category and a specific instance of that category. For example, vehicle is a hypernym of car, and car is a hyponym of vehicle.
- Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings. For example, witch and which are homophones in most accents (because they are pronounced the same).
- Homographs are words that have the same spelling but different meanings. For example, one can record a song or keep a record of documents.
- Homonyms are words that have the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings. For example, rose (a type of flower) and rose (past tense of rise) are homonyms.
See alsoEdit
- -onym
- Synonym (taxonomy)
- Cognitive synonymy
- Elegant variation, the gratuitous use of a synonym in prose
- Synonym ring
- Synonymy in Japanese
- Thesauri and synonym dictionaries – Reference work for synonyms
ReferencesEdit
- ^ K.4375
- ^ Stanojević, Maja (2009), «Cognitive synonymy: a general overview» (PDF), Facta Universitatis, Linguistics and Literature Series, 7 (2): 193–200.
- ^ DiMarco, Chrysanne, and Graeme Hirst. «Usage notes as the basis for a representation of near-synonymy for lexical choice.» Proceedings of 9th annual conference of the University of Waterloo Centre for the New Oxford English Dictionary and Text Research. 1993.
- ^ Grambs, David. The Endangered English Dictionary: Bodacious Words Your Dictionary Forgot. WW Norton & Company, 1997.
- ^ «World Architecture Images- The White House». www.essential-architecture.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ Hirst, Graeme. «Ontology and the lexicon.» Handbook on ontologies. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2009. 269-292.
- ^ Turney, Peter D. (2008). «A Uniform Approach to Analogies, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Associations». Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Computational Linguistics — Volume 1. COLING ’08. Stroudsburg, PA, USA: Association for Computational Linguistics: 905–912. arXiv:0809.0124. ISBN 978-1-905593-44-6.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 1st edition, 1919, s.v.
- ^ Bradley, Henry (1922). The Making of English. Macmillan and Company, Limited.
- ^ Ziya Gökalp, The Principles of Turkism, 1968, p. 78
- ^ Carl Darling Buck, A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages, 1949, reprinted as ISBN 0226079376
- ^ Geoffrey Lewis, The Turkish Language Reform: A Catastrophic Success, 1999, ISBN 0198238568, p. 44, 70, 117
- ^ «Synonym dictionary words and phrases». www.allacronyms.com. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
External linksEdit
Look up synonym in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. They can be used to vary the language used in a piece of writing, to add precision or clarity, or to add interest or variety. Synonyms can be helpful when you want to avoid repeating the same word over and over, or when you want to express an idea in a more precise or specific way.
Below are some of the most useful synonyms, synonyms words for IELTS. This list of synonyms words will help you expand your English vocabulary.
What Are Synonyms?
A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning as another word. Synonyms are used to vary the language used in a piece of writing, to add precision or clarity, or to add interest or variety. They can be helpful when you want to avoid repeating the same word over and over, or when you want to express an idea in a more precise or specific way.
For example, you might use the synonym “enormous” instead of “big” to describe something that is very large, or you might use “thrilled” as a synonym for “happy” to describe someone who is feeling very excited.
Synonyms can be found in a thesaurus, which is a reference book that lists words with similar meanings. You can also use a search engine or online thesaurus to find synonyms for specific words. Some common synonyms include “happy” and “joyful,” “big” and “large,” and “said” and “uttered.”
Using synonyms can help you to expand your vocabulary and make your writing more interesting and engaging. It can also help you to express your ideas more clearly and effectively. However, it is important to use synonyms appropriately and to consider the specific context in which you are using them.
List of Synonyms
List of Synonym Words
Here is a list of some common synonyms.
- Big – large
- Happy – joyful
- Said – spoke, uttered
- Fast – quick
- Good – great
- Wet – damp
- Hard – difficult
- Far – distant
- Old – ancient, elderly
- Young – youthful
- Late – tardy
- Soon – shortly, promptly
- Early – prematurely
- Clear – transparent
- Empty – vacant
- Full – complete, packed
- Hot – warm, scorching
- Cold – chilly, frosty
- Beautiful – gorgeous, stunning
- Happy – content, satisfied
- Loud – noisy, boisterous
- Quiet – peaceful, tranquil
- Angry – furious, irate
- Sad – unhappy, miserable
- Tired – weary, exhausted
- Hungry – famished, ravenous
- Thirsty – parched, dehydrated
- Full – satiated, stuffed
- Empty – hollow, barren
- Rich – wealthy, affluent
- Poor – destitute, indigent
- Strong – powerful, mighty
- Weak – frail, feeble
- Brave – courageous, valiant
- Cowardly – timid, fearful
- Smart – intelligent, clever
- Dumb – ignorant, stupid
- Fast – speedy, swift
- Slow – sluggish, leisurely
- Tall – high, towering
- Short – small, petite
- Heavy – weighty, massive
- Light – lightweight, slight
- Hot – scorching, blazing
- Cold – freezing, icy
- Dry – arid, parched
- Wet – soggy, moist
- Easy – simple, effortless
- Hard – challenging, difficult
- Near – close, nearby
- Far – distant, remote
- Wide – broad, expansive
- Narrow – slender, tight
- Deep – profound, bottomless
- Shallow – superficial, shallow
- High – elevated, tall
- Low – short, small
- Long – extended, lengthy
- Short – brief, concise
- New – fresh, modern
- Old – antique, vintage
- Clean – pure, unsoiled
- Dirty – filthy, grimy
- Empty – bare, blank
- Full – occupied, packed
- Open – exposed, unobstructed
- Closed – shut, sealed
- Bright – radiant, luminous
- Dark – dim, shadowy
- Hot – fiery, burning
- Cold – frosty, freezing
- Fresh – new, recent
- Stale – old, musty
- Soft – tender, delicate
- Hard – solid, firm
- Smooth – even, flawless
- Rough – bumpy, jagged
- Thin – slim, slender
- Thick – dense, hefty
- Sweet – sugary, honeyed
- Sour – acidic, tart
- Salty – briny, savory
- Bitter – acrid, sharp
- Spicy – piquant, hot
- Mild – gentle, soft
- Fast – rapid, swift
- Slow – leisurely, sluggish
- Early – premature, ahead of time
- Late – tardy, delayed
- Clear – transparent, lucid
Synonyms Words for IELTS
Here is the useful list of synonyms words for IELTS in English.
- Accurate – correct
- Achieve – accomplish
- Active – energetic
- Adamant – firm
- Add – increase
- Adequate – sufficient
- Aggressive – assertive
- Aid – help
- Always – forever
- Amateur – beginner
- Ambitious – aspiring
- Approve – accept
- Arrive – reach
- Authentic – genuine
- Awful – dreadful, atrocious
- Bashful – shy, timid
- Beautiful – pretty, attractive
- Before – prior, earlier
- Beginning – start, initiate
- Believe – trust, accept
- Below – under, lower
- Beneficial – helpful, useful
- Best – finest, choice
- Birth – beginning
- Blend – combine, mix
- Bottom – base, foundation
- Brave – courageous, bold
- Break – fracture, burst
- Brief – short, concise
- Buy – purchase
- Calm – quiet, tranquil
- Chilly – cool, nippy
- Chubby – plump, pudgy
- Clarify – explain, simplify
- Close – near, imminent
- Coarse – bumpy, rough
- Comical – amusing, funny
- Complex – complicated
- Confine – contain, enclose
- Conflict – fight, battle, struggle
- Conform – comply, submit
- Connect – join, link, attach
- Correct – accurate, right
- Courage – bravery, valor
- Courteous – polite, civil
- Cranky – cross, irritable
- Crazy – insane, daft, mad
- Cruel – mean, heartless
- Daring – bold, audacious
- Deduct – subtract, remove
- Defend – protect, shield
- Defy – resist, challenge
- Delicate – fragile, dainty
- Despise – hate, detest, loathe
- Destitute – poor, penniless
- Deter – hinder, prevent
- Determined – sure, convinced
- Dirty – soiled, messy
- Disagree – differ, dispute
- Dispute – debate, oppose
- Diverse – different, distinct
- Divide – separate, split
- Docile – tame, gentle
- Dubious – doubtful, questionable
- Dull – blunt, dreary
- Dumb – stupid, dense
- Easy – simple
- Encourage – promote, support, urge
- Enjoy – like, appreciate
- Enlarge – expand, magnify
- Enormous – vast, immense, colossal
- Fast – rapid, quick, swift
- Fat – chubby, plump, stout
- Fatal – deadly, mortal, killing
- Fatigue – tire, exhaust
- Fiction – fantasy, untruth, myth
- Fill – load, pack
- Fraction – part, portion, segment
- Frigid – freezing, frosty
- Frivolous – trivial, unimportant, silly
- Furious – angry, enraged, infuriated
- Future – coming, tomorrow
- Gain – acquire, obtain
- Gaudy – showy, garish, vulgar
- Gaunt – scrawny, skinny, thin
- Generous – giving, selfless, big-hearted
- Great – outstanding, remarkable
- Handy – useful, convenient, skillful
- High – elevated, lofty
- Huge – vast, immense, great
- Humble – modest, unpretentious
- Humiliate – embarrass, disgrace, dishonor
- Identical – alike, duplicate
- Immaculate – spotless, pure
- Inferior – lesser, substandard
- Infuriate – enrage, agitate, provoke
- Ingenious – clever, creative, original
- Innocent – guiltless, blameless
- Interesting – provocative, engrossing
- Intolerant – bigoted, prejudiced
- Irrelevant – inappropriate, unrelated
- Join – connect, unite, link
- Jolly – merry, jovial, joyful
- Jubilant – overjoyed, delighted, elated
- Keep – save, protect, guard
- Least – fewest, minimum, smallest
- Logical – sensible, sane, rational
- Long – lengthy
- Luxurious – extravagant, elegant
- Magnify – expand, enlarge, exaggerate
- Meager – scanty, sparse, poor
- Mean – unkind, malicious, nasty
- Militant – combative, aggressive, warlike
- Minor – lesser, inferior, secondary
- Mirth – merriment, fun, laughter
- Mischievous – naughty, impish
- Moderate – temperate, lenient, medium
- Mysterious – elusive, occult, secret
- Naughty – bad, disobedient, wrong
- Nonchalant – indifferent, lackadaisical, blase
- Normal – ordinary, typical, usual
- Obey – mind, heed, comply
- Observe – examine, study, scrutinize
- Obsolete – extinct, dated, antiquated
- Optional – voluntary, elective
- Ordinary – usual, average
- Outrageous – preposterous, shocking
- Polite – gracious, refined, courteous
- Poor – destitute, needy, impoverished
- Portion – part, segment, piece
- Prompt – punctual, timely
- Proud – arrogant, elated
- Push – shove, propel
- Quit – cease, stop, withdraw
- Racket – noise, commotion, disturbance
- Ratify – approve, confirm, endorse
- Ravage – devastate, ruin, damage
- Raze – destroy, demolish
- Reluctant – unwilling, hesitant
- Remote – secluded, isolated, distant
- Repulsive – hideous, offensive, gruesome
- Reputable – honorable, upstanding, honest
- Resist – oppose, withstand, defy
- Retaliate – avenge, revenge, reciprocate
- Reveal – show, disclose, divulge
- Same – identical, alike, equivalent
- Serene – peaceful, tranquil, calm
- Serious – grave, solemn, pensive
- Shrewd – clever, cunning, crafty
- Sluggish – listless, lethargic, inactive
- Small – little, insignificant, trivial
- Smooth – slick, glossy, level
- Sociable – friendly, cordial, gregarious
- Sorrow – woe, anguish, grief
- Special – exceptional, notable, particular
- Stable – steady, unchanging, settled
- Strenuous – vigorous, laborious
- Strict – stringent, severe, stern
- Strong – powerful, mighty, potent
- Stupid – unintelligent, dense, foolish
- Surplus – excess, additional, extra
- Tall – high, lofty
- Tangible – concrete, definite
- Taut – tense, tight, stiff
- Tender – delicate, gentle, affectionate
- Terrible – dreadful, horrible, vile
- Thrifty – economical, frugal, prudent
- Thrive – prosper, flourish, develop
- Urgent – crucial, important
- Vacant – unoccupied, empty
- Vague – unclear, obscure, indistinct
- Valiant – courageous, brave, heroic
- Victory – triumph, win, success
- Virtuous – moral, righteous, angelic
- Weary – tired, fatigued, lethargic
- Worn – used, impaired, old
- Wrong – incorrect, untrue, mistaken
- Yield – produce, bear, provide
Useful Example Sentences
- She gave an accurate account of the case.
- After he won the amateur championship he turned professional.
- I hope your holiday will be beneficial to you.
- There was a brief pause in the conversation.
- I wish the speaker would confine himself to the subject.
- I was courteous but didn’t encourage conversation.
- The room was decorated in dubious taste.
- We were all suffering from fatigue at the end of our journey.
- She was tricked out in the gaudy dress.
- The room has the immaculate, antiseptic air of a hospital laboratory.
- This method of cultivation produces a higher yield.
- They talked modestly of their valiant efforts to keep the tanker afloat.
- Mrs. Jones was a very thrifty woman who never wasted anything.
- We need tangible evidence if we’re going to take legal action.
- The doctor advised Ken to avoid strenuous exercise.
- Malcolm is a shrewd and realistic businessman.
- My information comes from a very reputable source.
- We would be grateful for the prompt payment of your account.
- It’s outrageous that the poor should pay such high taxes.
- It merely underlines our rather more nonchalant attitude to life.
Synonyms Words | Image
List of Synonyms Words in English
Synonyms Words – What is a Synonym?
Synonyms Words List for IELTS
Last Updated on January 9, 2023
This word set can be confusing, even for word geeks. Let’s start with the basics. A homograph is a word that has the same spelling as another word but has a different sound and a different meaning:
lead (to go in front of)/lead (a metal)
wind (to follow a course that is not straight)/wind (a gust of air)
bass (low, deep sound)/bass (a type of fish)
A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word but has a different meaning. Homophones may or may not have the same spelling. Here are some examples:
to/two/too
there/their/they’re
pray/prey
Not so bad, right? The ending –graph means drawn or written, so a homograph has the same spelling. The –phone ending means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation. But here’s where it gets tricky. Depending on whom you talk to, homonym means either:
A word that is spelled like another but has a different sound and meaning (homograph); a word that sounds like another but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone)
OR
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone)
So does a homonym have to be both a homograph and a homophone, or can it be just one or the other? As with most things in life, it depends on whom you ask.
In the strictest sense, a homonym must be both a homograph and a homophone. So say many dictionaries. However, other dictionaries allow that a homonym can be a homograph or a homophone.
With so many notable resources pointing to the contrary, are we losing this strict meaning? What then will we call a word that is spelled and pronounced the same as another but has a different meaning? If homonym retains all these meanings, how will readers know what is actually meant?
The careful writer would do well to follow the strict sense, ensuring his meaning is understood immediately.
homograph
Use the noun homograph to talk about two words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and are sometimes pronounced differently — like sow, meaning «female pig,» and sow, «to plant seeds.» Continue reading…
homonym
Can you spot the homonyms in the sentence «The baseball pitcher drank a pitcher of water»? A homonym is a word that is said or spelled the same way as another word but has a different meaning. «Write” and “right” is a good example of a pair of homonyms. Continue reading…
homophone
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and/or spelling. “Flower” and “flour” are homophones because they are pronounced the same but you certainly can’t bake a cake using daffodils. Continue reading…
Search more than 275,000 synonyms, antonyms, related words, and idiomatic phrases. The thesaurus is more than just a list of synonyms; it is your guide to more precise and effective use of language.
1
: one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses
2
a
: a word or phrase that by association is held to embody something (such as a concept or quality)
a tyrant whose name has become a synonym for oppression
3
: one of two or more scientific names used to designate the same taxonomic group compare homonym
synonymic
adjective
or less commonly synonymical
Did you know?
The English language (and, we may presume, many other languages) has both antonyms and synonyms. There are many more words with synonyms than there are words with antonyms, since many things exist which do not have an opposite (the word sandwich, for instance, may be said to have synonyms in the words hoagie, grinder, submarine, and many other words, but there is no opposite of sandwich). Antonym is also a much more recent addition to English than synonym is; it first appeared in the 1860s, whereas synonym has been used for more than 500 years.
Additionally, both nouns have adjectival forms: synonymous and antonymous. Synonymous, which is often used loosely («She has become synonymous with good taste»), is the more common of the two.
Example Sentences
I very much enjoyed the chapter on obscenity, which asks the difficult question of how words deemed taboo differ from their inoffensive synonyms … . It can’t obviously be the referent of the term, since that is the same, and it isn’t merely that the taboo words are more accurately descriptive …
—
Colin McGinn, The New York Review of Books, 27 Sept. 2007
The debris hurtled by so fast that the New York Times editorial page seemed to run out of synonyms for disgust, revulsion and abuse.
—Michael Duffy et al., Time, 5 Mar. 2001
«Hollywood» is not, of course, a place. Nor is it a synonym for the entertainment business. There are upstanding citizens who make their living in that field.
—P. J. O’Rourke, Republican Party Reptile, 1987
“Small” and “little” are synonyms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hip-hop’s early luminaries transformed the word’s original meanings, using it as a synonym for cool.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2023
Dermatitis, which means inflammation of the skin, is often used as a synonym for eczema, though not all types of dermatitis are considered eczema.1 There are many types of eczema, each with its own set of causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 17 Mar. 2023
During ceremony, the oni (a word that means wisdom in Shipibo, but is used as a synonym for ayahuasca), is served while Shipibo healers sing songs; together, the experience is meant to purge negative, heavy energies from the body, also known as mawa niwe.
—Michaela Trimble, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2023
It’s used as a synonym for intelligent.
—Simran Johal, refinery29.com, 16 May 2022
An Off Duty article and accompanying recipe for spiced potato fritters on Saturday incorrectly used Idaho as a synonym for russet potato.
—WSJ, 23 Mar. 2022
Today’s Theme Each of the theme entries has two parts: The first word is a type of food and the second is a synonym for leaving a location.
—Deb Amlen, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2023
Pelé added a third layer: his nickname, his trademark, became a synonym not for greatness or even for excellence but for an unimpeachable, scarcely attainable form of perfection.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022
The Stamp Act simply became a synonym for horror; Schiff tells of a New England servant who refused to enter a barn at night, for fear that the Stamp Act might be there.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2022
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘synonym.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English sinonyme, from Latin synonymum, from Greek synōnymon, from neuter of synōnymos synonymous, from syn- + onyma name — more at name
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of synonym was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near synonym
Cite this Entry
“Synonym.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synonym. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
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