The post, What is a Synonym? Meaning and Examples, focuses on Synonyms, its definition and examples. We usually study synonym under the branch of linguistics known as Semantics. (See Branches of Linguistics).
Table of Contents
Synonyms in English
Semantics deals with the study of meaning in terms of words and sentence relationships and we refer to this as lexical relations. Synonyms form part of the semantic relationships between words. Other semantic relationships include the following: antonyms, retronyms, endonym, demonym, heteronym, patronym, etc.
Paronym
This is a type of synonym. It has to do with words associated with meanings which also have great similarities in form. For example:
- Affect/effect
- Aural/oral
- Avoid/evade
- Ingenuous/ingenious
- Access/assess
- Academic/academia
- Believe/belief
- Further/farther
- Emoticon/emoji
- Elder/Older
- Rout/route
- Ok/okay
- Program/programme
- Toward/towards
- Surpass/supersede
What is a Synonym? Meaning and Examples
Let us start this discussion by first looking at the definition of synonyms…
Synonyms Meaning
A synonym is a word meaning same as another – a word that means the same, or almost the same, as another word in the same language, either in all of its uses or in a specific context such as bucket and pail, environment and surroundings and the verbs “tear” and “rip.”
It also means an alternative name – a word or expression that is used as another name for something in some styles of speaking or writing or to emphasise a specific aspect or association such as Hellene for a Greek, Gotham and New York etc. Two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to be synonymous relative to that context, that is, equivalent word.
Synonyms Examples
While learning words of the English language many years ago, I used to have a notebook where I synonymize some words. Let me share with you some synonyms examples:
- Strike-breaker – blackleg, scab, etc.
- Putrid – rotten, malodorous, objectionable, smelly, etc.
- Malfeasance – wrongdoing, misdeed, misconduct, etc.
- Siesta – nap, forty winks, catnap, etc.
- Impostor – charlatan, whipper-snapper, smart Alek, etc.
- Hideous – horrible, terrible, awful, dreadful, frightful, horrid, grim, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, horrific, horrendous, etc.
- Nonpareil – unmatched, unrivalled, peerless, unparalleled, matchless, unexampled, unequalled, unique, nonesuch, etc.
- Palliate – mitigate, mollify, alleviate, assuage, abate, etc.
- Exacerbate – aggravate, worsen, heighten, intensify, increase, magnify, etc.
- Prostitute – tart, whore, strumpet, coquette, flirt, courtesan, philanderer, wench, scarlet woman, slattern, floozies, slut, trollop, panderer, etc.
- Stupid – vacuous, fatuous, foolish, senseless, inane, inept, numskull, half-witted, softheaded, lumpish, etc.
- Archaic – antiquated, obsolete, musty, outdated, antique, ancient, old, etc.
- Strange – queer, odd, freakish, grotesque, weird, eerie, outlandish, uncanny, mysterious, etc.
- Suave – polite, courteous, debonair, modest, demure, urbane, deferential, refined, etc.
- Wicked – scoundrel, depraved, cruel, infamous, atrocious, savage, brutal, etc.
- Crude – unrefined, uncultured, mannerless, uncivilised, uncouth, vulgar, coarse, rough, blunt, gross, stark, etc.
Synonyms List
Apart from specific numbers of examples given below, here is an inexhaustive list of synonyms in English…
10 Examples of Synonyms
Let us see some 10 examples of synonyms…
- Beep – peep, bleep, ping, ding, chime, ding-dong, cheep, chirp, squawk
- Spot – speck, blemish, dot, mark
- Innovator – inventor, forerunner, developer, creator, discoverer
- Recognition – acceptance, admission, confession, appreciation, tribute
- Response – reply, reaction, answer, rejoinder (formal), retort
- Acolyte – follower, devotee, disciple, adherent, supporter, admirer, enthusiast
- Acquaintance – associate, friend, contact, colleague, consociate (formal), confrère (formal)
- Acme – peak, summit, top, zenith, pinnacle, culmination, apex, apogee
- Acquaint – make aware, inform, let know, let in on, make familiar with, familiarize, apprise (formal), explain, notify, tell, and run by
- Acquiesce – agree, comply, accept, consent, assent, give in, submit, go along with, yield, concede, concur, and accede
List of Synonyms
- Brush: scrub, clear, coat, groom, sweep, clean, polish
- Obscurity: anonymity, insignificance, unimportance, inconspicuousness, oblivion
- Incomprehensibility: vagueness, ambiguousness, doubt, murkiness, opacity, unintelligibility, abstruseness
- Obsequious: servile, sycophantic, flattering, toadying, submissive, fawning, compliant, deferential, reverential, grovelling, unctuous, smarmy
- Assertive: self-confident, self-assured, confident, firm, forceful, emphatic, insistent, positive, decided, pushy (informal), aggressive, forward
- Timid: nervous, shy, fearful, timorous, diffident, coy, bashful, reticent, retiring, faint-hearted, cowardly, frightened, tentative, apprehensive, hesitant
- timorous: nervous, fearful, timid, frightened, scared, afraid, shy, apprehensive, bashful, diffident, coy, retiring, reticent, cowardly, faint-hearted, hesitant
- Tetchy: bad-tempered, irritable, grumpy, impatient, touchy, testy (informal), grouchy (informal), crabby, crotchety (informal), cross, temperamental, snappy, cranky (informal), petulant, peevish
- Tactics: strategy, planning, campaign, manoeuvres, devices, diplomacy, policy, procedure, scheme
- Tactless: insensitive, undiplomatic, indiscreet, indelicate, gauche, thoughtless, inconsiderate, unfeeling, injudicious, careless, impolite, unthinking, rude, unkind, clumsy, crass
- Systematic: methodical, orderly, organized, efficient, logical, regular
List of Synonyms 2
- Gunky: greasy, slimy, messy, filthy, mucky (informal), dirty
- Gulp: guzzle (informal), swig (informal), swallow, knock back (informal), toss down, drink, quaff (literary or humorous), slug (informal)
- Garish: brash, bright, loud, lurid, vulgar, tasteless, gaudy, showy, tawdry
- Furtively: stealthily, secretly, sneakily, slyly, surreptitiously, shiftily, secretively
- Furiously: angrily, irately, wrathfully, heatedly, crossly
- Dandy: great (informal), excellent, cool (slang), groovy (dated slang), fine, superb, swell
- Daft: silly, foolish, eccentric, daffy (informal), dippy
- Generous: kind, big-hearted, open-handed, munificent, giving, charitable, liberal
- Gape: stare, gawk (informal), gaze, ogle, look hard, gawp (UK, informal)
- Sensational: extraordinary, dramatic, astonishing, unbelievable, historic, memorable
- Amazing: astounding, marvellous, exciting, thrilling, breath-taking, out of this world, magnificent, incredible, striking, spectacular, remarkable
- Alluring: appealing, attractive, tempting, interesting, fascinating, enthralling, charming, glamorous, captivating, charismatic, irresistible
- Gracious: kind, polite, tactful, courteous, civil, diplomatic, amiable, cordial, affable
Summary
I am cocksure you have learned some synonyms and possibly some new vocabulary. Check other educative posts on this platform and share with your friends and other deserving individuals. See you around.
