What is a synonym?

by Yogi P - October 14, 2023

What is synonym and type of synonym?

A synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms can be used to make your writing more interesting and varied, and to avoid repetition.

Types of synonyms

There are two main types of synonyms:

Exact synonyms: These are words or phrases that have the same meaning in all contexts. For example, “big” and “large” are exact synonyms.
Near synonyms: These are words or phrases that have similar meanings, but may have different shades of meaning or be used in different contexts. For example, “happy” and “joyful” are near synonyms. “Happy” can be used to describe a general feeling of contentment, while “joyful” is used to describe a more intense feeling of happiness.

How to use synonyms

When choosing a synonym, it is important to consider the context in which it will be used. For example, if you are writing a formal document, you would want to use an exact synonym. If you are writing a more creative piece, you could use a near synonym to add more interest and variety to your writing.

Here are some tips for using synonyms effectively:

Make sure you understand the meaning of the synonym before you use it.
Choose a synonym that is appropriate for the context in which you are using it.
Avoid using too many synonyms in a row, as this can make your writing difficult to read.
Use a variety of synonyms to make your writing more interesting and varied.

Here are some examples of how to use synonyms effectively in sentences:

Instead of saying “The dog was big,” you could say “The dog was large” or “The dog was huge.”
Instead of saying “The woman was happy,” you could say “The woman was joyful” or “The woman was delighted.”
Instead of saying “The man was sad,” you could say “The man was unhappy” or “The man was downcast.”

Some examples of synonyms:

Word	Synonym
big	large
happy	joyful
sad	unhappy
fast	quick
slow	leisurely
beautiful	attractive
good	excellent
bad	terrible
love	adore
hate	despise
go	walk
come	arrive

FAQs on Synonym

What is a synonym?

A synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms can be used to make your writing more interesting and varied, and to avoid repetition.