To find a synonym for a word you would use

English has such a rich and varied vocabulary that we can always use synonyms in writing.

Whatever word you can think of, there is at least another equally good word you can use.

Is there another word for thesaurus? Yes, there is. It’s a lexicon, a synonymy, or a synonym dictionary.

For writers, synonyms let you express yourself better and add variety to your writing.

Most of the time, you are trying to find better synonyms to reduce repetition or express yourself in a slightly different way.

However, you want to avoid changing the language register or voice in your writing.

Simply choosing a different word because you can is not always the best solution.

If you look at the following simplistic examples, you can see that some synonyms can change the formality or degree of intensity.

Angry: upset, furious, seething

Begin: start, commence, institute

Dangerous: unsafe, risky, treacherous

End: stop, halt, terminate

Quiet: faint, tranquil, inaudible

Propose: suggest, recommend, advocate

Fast: rapid, quick, expeditious

Write: draft, pen, inscribe

Use: employ, operate, utilize

Depending on the context, some of the words in the list above might not work well.

For example, each third synonym in the list would probably change the sense and intensity too much to be suitable.

Although words might mean the same thing, there are always slight differences. When you write, synonyms can change the tone of a phrase.

Always check to see if your choice is appropriate.

Another issue to be aware of is that a synonym you select might change the grammar of a sentence.

Anytime you replace a word, you should always check your sentence structure after substituting one word for another.

Yes, you will always need to choose synonyms for variety, but never forget to check their fit and suitability.

Change tone

When we write, synonyms change the tone of what we are trying to say. By replacing one word, you can change the perspective. Look at these two sentences as an example.

I ran to catch the train.

I sprinted to catch the train.

The second one sounds more urgent and athletic, even though both sentences could mean the same thing.

Clive wrote a new chapter last night.

Clive drafted a new chapter last night.

In these two sentences, we are changing the sense of completion.

Mary loved the movie.

Mary adored the movie.

Here we have changed the level and tone of preference.

Always select a word with the right tone and sentiment to fit the sentence and meaning.

Language richness

You can use the verb to get in almost every sentence. But how boring does your writing become?

It doesn’t matter what you are writing.

When you see the same verb more than once or twice on a page, it’s time to get – no, become, or start being more inventive.

The richness of your vocabulary comes from the wide variety you can use in the appropriate manner and form.

You can connect better with your readers and get your message across – no, communicate your message better.

The richer your communication or storytelling is, the more powerful your writing will become – no, turn out to be.

Poetry

Not everyone is a fan of writing poetry.

But synonyms are crucial for a poet because you need to create a meter and rhythm with your words.

You are also looking for rhymes.

Of all the needs in writing for synonyms, poetry is probably top of the list.

A poet needs lots of vocabulary options to write acceptable poetry.

English variations

English is spoken all over the world, including in many countries, as a second language.

It means that so many new words become part of our language.

However, there are still differences that fail to cross the divides.

It is especially true in the variations between US and UK English.

Whether you choose sidewalk, pavement, footpath, or footway depends on where you live.

When you choose a synonym, be careful that it’s only relevant to your local English language.

If you write in US English, you will use a cell phone. Replacing it with a mobile phone, which is common in UK English, would confuse your readers.

It’s the same with words like an elevator and a lift.

The Internet is helping English to evolve and expand. But your use of regional vocabulary is still a big issue when you use synonyms in writing.

When you hunt for synonyms, and especially nouns, make sure they fit with your variety of English.

History

Many English verbs evolved from other languages.

Think here about receive and get. The first is from French (recevoir) and the second from Anglo-Saxon English.

There are a vast number of verbs that derive from French.

In fact, if you use a verb of more than six letters, it could well be from French.

Your choice of verbs is important in relation to your formality of writing.

French-based verbs always tend to be more formal than English verbs.

Here’s an example.

I think he saw that there was a problem.

I think he perceived that there was a problem.

Take care when you replace verbs to make sure you retain the right level of formality in your writing.

How do you search for synonyms?

Grammar checkers

If you use one of the many online grammar checking tools, it might provide you with an option to look for synonyms.

It’s a great place to start because you usually get one-click access to a long list of synonyms.

If you are a Grammarly user, finding synonyms is as easy as pie. Just click on a word in your text to find a long list of suggested ideas.

For Prowritingaid users, you have a similar tool to find a long list of synonyms as you write.

As a bonus, it lists them in contextually related themes.

Online search

There isn’t much that Google can’t find. So you can simply do an online search for the word you want to replace with a synonym.

Type in the word you want to replace and add the word synonym to your search phrase.

You will get a whole list of options right there on the first page.

Thesaurus.com will probably be one of the first websites to come up with, and it is also a great resource when you are searching for synonyms.

Dictionary or thesaurus

Do you still have a hard copy of a thesaurus or dictionary?

Well, that’s great!

But sometimes the Internet is a lot faster.

To be honest, I still trust my Oxford and Cambridge volumes a little more. But the Internet is so much faster.

If you are frantically trying to finish an article for a deadline, I know which one is the best choice.

But if you are writing a book, you can take your time and dust off the pages.

Either way, take the time to do your research and find the right words.

Conclusion

Synonyms evolve every year. Updates to dictionaries tell us how fast our language is changing and rapidly inventing new words.

You’ve probably taken a selfie. But did you know that selfie is an original Australian word? But now, it is used in all forms of English.

Fake news and alternative facts are very new and evolved from US politics.

Who knows how many new words will be in regular use in a few years?

It proves that our language is alive, well, and developing all the time.

As a writer, you should always be looking for different ways to express yourself.

Synonyms are just one way you can do that.

Related Reading: 350 Other Words For Said For Your Dialogue Writing

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:

• The little boy skipped down the lane, licking his lollipop.

• The brave woman trekked across the mountain range carrying the medicine, a hero’s journey.

• Just before dawn, the old man trudged down the muddy road to his factory job.

• 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:

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:

• Anemometer

• Gastroenterologist

• Pyroclastic

• 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:

• 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.”)

• 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.”)

• 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.

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