Synonyms in English: Definition, Types, Rules and Examples

There is English and then there is effective English, in which you can articulate your sentences with words that bring out better essence just by picking the ‘right’, ‘just’, ‘equitable’, ‘good’, ‘proper’, ‘ethical’, ‘correct’, ‘accurate’ or even ‘lawful’ words. Wondering why we have used so many similar words? Well, this was just an example of synonyms in English.

Synonyms in English are the words that have the same or similar meaning in the same language. The use of these words help us to avoid repetitions and make our conversation, both oral or written, more clear and attractive. Synonyms allows us to express the same idea in multiple ways, by adapting the tone to its context. 

Indian students who are soon going to take English proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo, having a strong vocabulary can play a central role in their overall success. This is because examiners often look for the range and accuracy in your word choice when assessing spoken and written English tasks, and repeating the same words can limit your score. Hence, one powerful way to improve vocabulary in the language is by mastering synonyms (and antonyms) in the English language. This article presents details on the synonyms meaning, their types, the common mistakes to avoid, and practical tips for using them correctly.

Also Read: Tenses in English Grammar

What are Synonyms in English?

According to Merriam Webster, synonyms in English are - “one of the two or more words or expressions that have the same or nearly the same meaning in the same language”. Some of examples of synonyms are:

1. Begin and Start (verbs)
2. Big and Large (adjectives)
3. Quickly and Rapidly (adverbs)

Note that all these synonyms words have almost the same meanings; however, their uses differ as per the sentence. These synonyms are different in terms of tone, formality, or context. 

Synonyms can be verbs, adverbs, nouns and adjectives; they help to add variation and richness in writing by avoiding repetition and adding clarity. Let us understand the common characteristics of synonyms words in English:

• Synonyms have a similar meaning.

• They can be substituted with one another: This often implies that synonyms of a word can replace it in a sentence without changing its meaning/central idea. 
• Synonyms are context-dependent: This means that for words to be synonyms, they all must have the similar meaning in the same context only, not in a different context. 

Also Read: Simple Present Tense

Types of Synonyms in English

There are three main types of synonyms in English, namely:

• Absolute (or Exact) Synonyms
• Partial Synonyms
• Near Synonyms

All these synonyms differ on the basis of the extent their meanings match with each other in the same language, in the same context. Let us understand these different synonyms types in detail below.

1. Absolute Synonyms

The absolute synonyms are the words that have exactly the same meaning in the same context and language. They can be used interchangeably and can substitute each other in almost every possible context without changing the sentence meaning. Here are some of the expamples of absolute synonyms. 

• Cab and Taxi
• Autumn and Fall
• Movie and Film
• Drink and beverage
• Cellphone and Mobile phone
• Close and shut
• Elevator and Lift
• Car and automobile

Note that the Absolute Synonyms are also sometimes referred to as “true” or “perfect” synonyms. 

2. Partial Synonyms

These partial synonyms are the words which have similar meaning but not same. The words have slight difference in their meaning. For example, both “good” and “excellent” have same central meaning but they differ in the extent of goodness being discussed. Therefore you cannot directly replace a word with its partial synonym as this could entirely alter the meaning of the sentence. Some examples of the Partial Synonyms are:

• Car and vehicle
  • Explanation: Car refers to a single car or type of transport, however, a vehicle is a broader term used for all types of transport.
• Smart and intelligent
  • Explanation: Smart and intelligent both have the same meaning, however “intelligent” refers to a higher level of intellect.
• Mother and Parent
  • Explanation: Parent is a general term to denote either a mother or father. 
• Big and huge
  • Explanation: Big is a general word for “large size”, however, huge refers to something very large (usually larger than big).

3. Near Synonyms

Near synonyms can be described as words that have different meanings but their meanings can still be related in some sense. These words can have a closely related theme and share a similar subject but they still have different meanings such that their meanings focus on different aspects of those themes. 

Near Synonyms cannot be used interchangeably in a sentence as this may change the meaning of the sentence. For example:

• Mist and Fog
• Smart and Witty
• Hairy and Furry

Also Read: Past Indefinite Tense

Common Synonym Mistakes to Avoid

1. Don't use it too Much: Don't swap every single word. If you use too many synonyms, your sentence becomes hard to read.

2. Ignoring the "Vibe": Words have feelings. Slim sounds nice; Skinny sounds mean. If you pick the wrong one, you change the message.

3. Guessing: Don't use a fancy word just to sound smart. If you don't know exactly what it means, you will likely use it wrong.

4. Changing Technical Terms: In fields like science or law, specific words matter. Never swap a technical term (like "Defendant") for a casual synonym (like "Accused") just to add variety.

How to Choose the Right Word (The 4-Step Check)

Before picking a synonym, ask these four questions:

1. Definition: Does it mean the exact same thing factually?

2. Feeling: Is the word positive, negative, or neutral?

3. Setting: Is this word for a boss (formal) or a friend (casual)?

4. Reader: Will the person reading this actually understand the word?

Golden Rules for Using Synonym

• Context is King: Ensure the word fits the situation. "Cheap" and "Affordable" mean the same thing, but "Cheap" implies low quality.

• Clarity Over Style: It is better to repeat a simple word than to use a complex synonym that confuses people.

Also check: Present Perfect Continuous Tense

100 Examples of Synonyms

Here is the list of synonyms, differentiated into categories of them being verbs, adverbs, nouns and adjectives:

How Understanding Synonyms Helps You Ace English Proficiency Exams?

English proficiency exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo don’t just test your grammar, they also assess your range of vocabulary and flexibility in expression. Learn how your understanding and knowledge of synonyms can be beneficial for the concerned English tests, below.

• IELTS: In both writing and speaking sections of the IELTS test, the examiners evaluate your Lexical Resource, which is a measure of how varied and precise your vocabulary is. In this sense, repeating the same word can lower your score. So, use of synonyms like significant, crucial, or vital shows the depth of your vocabulary and helps to boost your band score.

• TOEFL: In both speaking and Writing tasks of TOEFL exam, synonyms help in avoiding redundancy and making your answers sound more academic. For example, instead of repeating “good” in the whole sentence or context, you could use its synonyms such as - effective, beneficial, or advantageous for more clarity and precision.

• PTE: PTE is a computer-scored test that is scored by both AI and human examiners; hence, the system tracks vocabulary diversity and its contextual accuracy. Therefore, proper use of synonyms can help you score higher in tasks like Essay Writing and Summarise Written Text.
• Duolingo: Short and timed tasks in the Duolingo English Test (DET) demand quick thinking. Hence, the knowledge of synonyms naturally allows you to vary your language under time pressure, showing the examiner (and the algorithm) that you have real good command of English language.

This was all about synonyms in English. If you have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments below.