Synonyms: What They Are and 46 Examples
What synonyms are, 46 synonym examples for adjectives, verbs and nouns, why context matters and how synonyms make your writing better.
By Polarzinho ·
Happy, glad, cheerful. Three words, one feeling: the one I get when I find fresh bamboo. Words like these, with similar meanings, are synonyms.
Here you get what synonyms are, 46 examples grouped by word type, and the catch: almost no synonym works in every sentence.
What is a synonym?
A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another, so you can swap them without changing the idea. "The cake is tasty" and "the cake is delicious" say the same thing.
The opposite of a synonym is an antonym: a word with the opposite meaning, like happy and sad.
Synonyms for adjectives
- happy = glad
- big = large
- small = tiny
- fast = quick
- smart = clever
- hard = difficult
- easy = simple
- calm = peaceful
- brave = courageous
- famous = well-known
- tired = exhausted
- angry = mad
- funny = hilarious
- tasty = delicious
- pretty = beautiful
- cold = chilly
- sad = unhappy
- old = ancient
Synonyms for verbs
- begin = start
- end = finish
- talk = speak
- walk = stroll
- look = gaze
- help = assist
- find = discover
- jump = leap
- hide = conceal
- choose = pick
- understand = grasp
- show = display
- win = triumph
- like = enjoy
Synonyms for nouns
- house = home
- car = automobile
- path = trail
- gift = present
- fear = fright
- joy = happiness
- kid = child
- student = pupil
- teacher = instructor
- mistake = error
- fight = quarrel
- trip = journey
- shop = store
- street = road
Careful: context matters
Almost no synonym is perfect. It works in one sentence and not in another:
- "An old friend" is a friend you have known for years. "An ancient friend" sounds very different.
- "House" and "home" are synonyms, but "home" carries a feeling of family and comfort.
- "Mad" can mean angry or crazy, depending on the sentence.
Why synonyms help
In writing, synonyms stop you from repeating the same word. Instead of "the house was big and the yard was big", write "the house was big and the yard was huge".
Practice with word games
In clue-based word games, the clue is often a synonym of the answer. In Letter River you read the clue and drag across the letters to spell the word.
In Lumora, every word you find helps fill in the others on the board.
FAQ
What is a synonym?
A word with the same or a similar meaning, like big and large.
What is a synonym for happy?
Glad, cheerful or joyful.
What is the difference between a synonym and an antonym?
A synonym has a similar meaning; an antonym has the opposite meaning.
Are there perfect synonyms?
Rarely. The meaning usually shifts a little depending on the sentence.
Your turn
Rewrite this without repeating words: "The movie was nice, the popcorn was nice and the company was nice."