FF.1 Identify synonyms and similar words
What Are Synonyms?
Synonyms are words that have the same or almost the same meaning. Learning synonyms helps us use different words to express the same idea.
- Big and large mean almost the same thing.
- Happy and glad both describe a good feeling.
Synonyms can make your writing more interesting by giving you choices of words with the same meaning.
Using Synonyms in Sentences
When we use synonyms, we can avoid repeating the same word too many times. This makes our sentences clearer and more fun to read.
- The child is smart. The kid is also clever.
- She is happy about her gift. She is glad she got it.
If a word feels repeated, try replacing it with a synonym to make the sentence sound smoother.
Different Kinds of Synonyms
Some synonyms mean exactly the same thing, while others are only close in meaning. The right synonym depends on the sentence you are writing.
- Exact: Mom and Mother.
- Close: fast and quick.
- Close: big and huge (huge is even bigger).
Even if two words are synonyms, they may not always fit in the same place in a sentence. Choose the one that makes the most sense.
Finding Synonyms
To find a synonym, think of another word that could replace the word you have without changing the meaning of the sentence.
- The test was easy. The test was simple.
- The food was yummy. The food was tasty.
Try saying the sentence with the new word. If the sentence still makes sense, then you found a good synonym.
Practicing with Synonyms
Practicing with synonyms helps you grow your vocabulary. The more words you know, the more clearly you can share your ideas.
- Instead of “The dog is big,” write “The dog is large.”
- Instead of “I am happy,” write “I am glad.”
Use synonyms to make your writing colorful and to show that you know more than one way to say the same idea.