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
See More
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 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
8 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
I. Synonyms and
synonymic sets
Synonyms are usually defined as words similar in meaning; as words
that express the same idea but it is wrong to say that synonyms are
identical in meaning since the range of the idea they express may be
very wide. In comparing synonyms we are mostly interested in their
difference than in their similarity, although the latter is also of
importance.
English is very rich in synonyms. There are about
8000 synonymic groups in English. A group of synonyms is called a
synonymic set, e.g. famous, celebrated,
renowned, illustrious may make a
synonymic set.
A polysemantic word may enter as many synonymic groups as it has
lexical semantic variants, e.g. the word “fresh” goes into 5
synonymic sets:
Fresh – original – novel – striking – up-to-date
Fresh – another – different – new
Fresh – invigorating – pure
Fresh – inexperienced – green- raw
Fresh – impertinent – rude
Each synonymic set has a word, which expresses the
most general idea and holds a commanding position over other words –
it is called the synonymic dominant. For instance in the series to
leave – to depart – to quit – to retire – to clear out
the word “to leave” is general and neutral and can stand for each
of the other four terms being the synonymic dominant of this group.
Thus the synonymic dominant is the most general word belonging to the
general stock of words stylistically neutral, of greater frequency
and of widest colloqability.
Synonyms are grouped according to their similarity
in their meaning and are contrasted within a group on a principle of
dissimilation, e.g. weak, feeble,
powerless.
In traditional linguistics synonyms are defined on basis of the
notional criteria; according to it synonyms are words of the same
category of parts of speech conveying the same notion but differing
either in shades of meaning or in stylistic characteristics. This
definition was given by Russian academician Vinogradov.
The definition of synonyms based on the semantic criteria runs as
follows: “Lexical synonyms are different words of the same part of
speech (having the same grammatical distribution) which have some
common denotational components in their semantic structure but differ
either in some denotational components and/or in some connotational
components and thus usually have different lexical colloqability.”
This definition was given by Pr. Elena Borisovna Cherkasskaya.
In modern research of synonyms the criteria of interchangeability is
sometimes applied. According to this, synonyms are defined as words,
which are interchangeable at least in some context without any
considerable alteration in denotational meaning. The application of
these criteria is limited due to the differences in the semantic
components of meanings of synonyms leading to the differences in
their colloqability.
In fact all the definitions of synonyms are opened criticism and
further perfection.
-
Functions of synonyms in speech
Synonyms have 3 main functions in speech:
-
The function of substitution in order to avoid repetition and
monotony -
The function of précising in meaning in order to reach a greater
accuracy and avoid vagueness. -
The expressive stylistic function, e.g.
clean (free from dirt) – neat (clean and tidy) – trim (in good
order, neat and spruce) – spruce (neat, trim and smart)
-
Types of synonyms
According to the classification of synonyms developed by academician
Vinogradov, there are 3 types of synonyms:
-
Idiographic synonyms. He describes idiographic
synonyms as words conveying the same notion but differing in
meaning. Idiographic synonyms refer to the same general concept but
they differ sometimes in the denotational meaning, e.g.
a look (a conscious and direct in devour to see) – a glance (a
look, which is quick and sudden) – a glimpse (a look implying
only momentary sights). These
idiographic synonyms differ in quickness of the action and the time
of duration. -
Stylistic synonyms are words of the same
denotational meaning used in different speech styles. They have the
same denotational components but differ in stylistic components of
their semantic structure, e.g.
enemy/farter (neutral) – foe/sire (poetical) – adversary/parent
(bookish) – opponent (official) / Dad (coloq.). -
Absolute synonyms in English are words of
exactly the same meaning, words identical in meanings, e.g.
fricatives and spirants; fatherland and motherland.
Absolute synonyms are very rare. According to F.R. Palmer it would
seem unlikely, “that two words with exactly the same meaning
would both survive in a language”.
-
Sources of synonyms in English
The following points are usually considered as sources of synonyms:
-
Borrowings.
Borrowings from French, Latin and Greek are the
most numerous ones in English. They often express an idea or name a
thing for which they already exist in a native word. That’s how
synonyms appear in the vocabulary. In most cases the native word is
more ordinary tan its foreign counterpart, e.g.
to buy – to purchase, brotherly – fraternal, world – universe.
But there exit plenty of cases of all borrowings
having become thoroughly assimilated. Some of them even express the
most general idea in synonymic sets and serve as synonymic dominants:
valley – dale, piece – lump/cake, to
decide – to settle, action – did…
There are examples of triplets: one native – one
from French – one directly from Latin, e.g.
ask–question-interrogate; teaching-guidance-instruction; to
gather-to assemble-to collect; kingly-royal-regal.
-
Dialectisms.
Dialectisms are words from local dialects, which
have entered the English vocabulary as regular words creating
synonyms to the words of Standard English, e.g. Scotch
synonyms: lass – girl, bonny – pretty, daft –
crazy/foolish/wild.
-
Word-building processes.
Word-building processes, which are at work in the English Language,
create synonyms to words already in use. The following cases are to
be considered here:
-
composite or phrasal verbs (составные
глаголы), e.g.
to choose – to pick out; to abandon – to give up; to enter –
to come in; to descend – to go down; to ascend – to go up; -
compounding which comprises composition and
conversion working simultaneously,
e.g. fight-back – resistance; precipitation – fall-out;
conscription – a call up; -
conversion, e.g.
to verbalize – to word; laughter – a laugh; to moisten – to
wet; -
shortening, e.g.
microphone – mike; popular – pop; examinations – exams; -
affixation or loss of affixes, e.g.
anxiety – anxiousness; affectivity – affectiveness; amongst –
among; await – wait; -
set expressions,
e.g.
to laugh – to give a laugh; to walk – to take a walk;
In this connection the problem of synonyms and lexical variants
arises: should these cases be regarded as synonyms or lexical
variants.
-
Euphemisms as a specific type of synonyms
Euphemism is a Greek word (EU means “well” and
PHEMOS means “speaking” thus “Euphemism” means speaking
well). A euphemism is a substitution of a harsh, obscene, indelicate
or otherwise unpleasant word by a less offensive word or periphrastic
expression, e.g. quieer
is a euphemism for mad;
intoxicated
is a euphemism for drunk;
in one’s birthday suit = naked.
Euphemisms are divided into 2 main groups according to the character
of words they subdtitute:
-
Religious and superstitious taboos are
words and set phrases which are avoided in speech for religious
reasons or because of superstition,
e.g. God – goodness, gracious, gosh; Devil – deuce, Dickens,
Nicolas, old Nick, Darwin; to die – to pass away, to go to one’s
last home, to go to the way of all flash, to join the majority, to
kick the bucket; -
Social and moral taboos
are words and idioms which are avoided in speech as not acceptable
in the polite conversation, e.g.
trousers – unmentionables; toilet – powder-room, retiring-room,
wash-room, restroom, lady’s room, public comfort station, WC
(Windsor Castle), public conveniences;
pregnant – in an interesting/delicate
condition; in a family way, with the baby coming, pig with child;
drunk – intoxicated, tipsy, under the influence, mellow, fresh,
high, merry, flustered, overcome, full, to be drunk as a lord/owl,
boiled, fried, tanked, tight, stiff, pickled, soaked;
Соседние файлы в папке Lecture8
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- 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.
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:
-
big-large
-
small — little
-
easy — effortless
-
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’.
-
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.
If antonyms are the words, which express opposite meanings, synonyms are vice versa. They have the same meanings and belong to one part of speech. All the delight of synonymy lies in the fact that, in spite of similar lexical meanings of synonyms, each of them has its special often inimitable, shades of meanings. This diversifies Russian language in great measure, makes it richer, expressive,and of course maximally informative.
The words, which are replaceable in the context, can be called synonyms. For example: «Он не выполнил задание в срок» /He didn’t perform a task in time/ — «Он не сделал задание в срок» /He didn’t do a task in time/.
Usage of synonyms in Russian helps to avoid the sameness and monotony. One word can have some different synonyms with different shades of lexical meanings, that’s why every person phases in a wide range of possibilities to express one and the same notions with the help of different words, nebertheless, similar in meaning. This results in the fact that, choosing different synonyms for some notions, all people speak in different ways, having the ability to show the wholeness of their personality in the speech.
Also, synonyms may take place in different parts of speech, as well as antonyms: verb (делать /to do/ – выполнять /to accomplish/ – реализовывать /to realize/), noun (доброта /kindness/ – великодушие /generosity/ – милосердие /mercy/), adjective (смелый /bold/ – мужественный /corageous/ – храбрый /brave/), and adverb (быстро /quickly/ – шустро /apace/ – оперативно /swiftly/ – живо /jauntily/ – молниеносно /flash-like/).
Whereas synonyms have common lexical meanings and express one and the same notion, they still differ with expressive conotation. Different synonyms can also be affixed to the certain style of speech that results in using some synonyms more often than the others in certain cases. For example, «начитанный» /well-read/ will be used popularly much more often than its synonym «эрудированный» /erudite/, and «умный» /clever/ – more often than «интеллектуальный» /intellectual/.
Complete and Partial Synonyms
According to the degree of synonimity, synonyms can be complete or partial.
Synonyms with identity of lexical meanings and contexts are considered to be complete synonyms. Good examples of complete synonyms are: «помидор» — «томат» /tomato/, «образец» /sample/ — «пример» /example/, «дублеты» /doublets/ — «варианты» /variants/.
Partial synonyms coincide only in part of meanings and differ in their connotation and/or co-occurrence. For example: «мороз» /frost/ — «холод» /cold/, «жара» /heat/ — «зной» /sultriness/, «защита» /maintenance/ — «броня» /armour/, «дождь» /rain/ — «ливень» /downpour/.
Functions of Synonyms
According to the functions, synonyms can be divided into semantic and stylistic, as well as mixed (semantic-stylistic).
Semantic synonyms denominate different sides of designated notion and are different in usage:
- manner of action (отключить /to unplug/ – обесточить /to deenergize/, погасить /to put out/ – задуть /to puff out/);
- characteristic intensity (запах /smell/ – аромат /aroma/, новый /new/ – современный /modern/, старый /old/ – древний /ancient/).
Stylistic synonyms have different expressive shade and give different estimation. Furthermore, they often belong to different functional styles (мина /air/ – морда /muzzle/ – рыло /snout/ – лицо /face/ – лик /countenance/).
Distinctive features of semantic-stylistic synonyms include characteristics both of semantic and stylistic synonyms (идти /to go/ – плестись /to daddle/ – тащиться /to trudge/ – ковылять /to toddle/).
Structure of Synonyms
According to the structure, synonyms are divided into those of one root and different roots.
Synonyms of one root have common root and different affixes (ругать /to scold/ — обругать /to call names/ — заругать /to berate/).
Synonyms of different roots have completely different roots (сильный /strong/ – крепкий /firm/ – солидный /solid/), (активный /active/ — предприимчивый /enterprising/).
Source of Synonyms’ Origin
According to the source of origin, synonyms can be:
— derived from originally Russian words: выдумать /to invent/ – придумать /to concoct/
— derived from both Russian and borrowed words: антипатия /antipathy/ — нелюбовь /dislike/
— derived from completely borrowed words: директор /director/ – менеджер /manager/
— derived from folk-poetic, obsolete or, conversely, modern words: лазурный /azure/ — синий /blue/
— derived from Old Slavonic and Russian words: младой – молодой /young/, старец /elder/ — старик /old man/.
Modern Russian cannot exist without such important stylistic device as synonymy, which makes our speech much more multifacet and appellative. With the help of synonyms we are able to express different shades of one and the same notion.