Language ArtsSynonyms are two or more words with similar meanings. People often look for synonyms when a word doesn't seem to fit in a sentence. This article defines different types of synonyms and give examples of synonyms.

To understand synonyms, it is important to understand denotation and connotation, two important qualities of any word. A word has one or more denotations: individual and specific meanings. Besides its precise meanings, each word has connotations, the associations that people connect to that particular word. These may be related not only to its particular denotation, but also to the full range of its denotations, its history and its level of formality.

So, for example, the word the word nice means “pleasant and agreeable.” But someone who has heard “Have a nice day” said as a rote formula without feeling may come to associate use of the word nice with shallowness and superficiality. The word curmudgeon could unexpectedly provoke laughter because it is an unusual sound sequence for English.

That's one person's experience, but there are words that have strong connotations for lots of people. Words like Nazi and Ku Klux Klan have very strong associations beyond their organization denotation.

The combination of denotation, orthography, sound, history, and connotation means that each word is unique. No word can ever exactly substitute for another. That being said, there are words that are very similar or convey shades of meaning of the same entity or idea.

Types of Synonyms

People looking for synonyms seek different qualities depending on the word involved and the reason for seeking a synonym. In some cases, they may simply be seeking greater understanding about the word's meaning. But in most cases, synonyms are sought by speakers and writers seeking to find an alternative because the word they've got may be:

• too long This could be the case for a lyricist looking for a two-syllable substitute for a three-syllable word.
• too short This could happen for an essayist in a context in which other words are multisyllabic and this word needs to hold its own among them.
• too sophisticated This might be the experience of an expert writing for a popular audience.
• too simple This might be the experience of a neophyte writing for experts.
• too formal This could happen if someone was adapting material to a “hipper” audience.
• too informal This could happen with an idea conceived among colleagues at lunch and being translated into language for a presentation to the Board of Directors.
• not have quite the meaning they want People sometimes know that there's a word they could use, but they can't remember it and can only think of related words.
• have alternative meanings that they don't wish their audience to be exposed to When people are aware that a particular word has a vulgar meaning, they may wish to find a substitute.
• have a different stress pattern  A poet may need a trochee instead of an iamb.

So, for example, someone looking at this list

• blood red, cardinal, carmine, carnelian, cherry, cerise, crimson, maroon, red, rose, ruby, scarlet, terra cotta, wine

might:

- reject blood red because of the mention of blood

- reject carmine, carnelian, cerise because the audience might not recognize them

- reject red, rose, and wine because they're one-syllable words

- reject terra cotta because much terra cotta is far more orange than red, so it could be misleading

- reject maroon because the color is too brown.

- reject cherry because the word is far more often used to name a fruit than it is to name a color and cardinal because the word is associated with the bird of that name.

- reject scarlet on account of the character of that name in the game of Clue®

This process leaves ruby and crimson.

Examples of Synonyms

Here are some more examples of synonyms. As you read through them, consider both what is similar about them and what differentiates them. What contexts might each fit into?

• ample, big, enormous, giant, huge, humongous, immense, large, out-sized, substantial, tremendous
• diminutive, little, miniature, petite, small,  tiny
• baggy, flabby, loose, slack
• ghastly, gruesome, hideous, repulsive, ugly, unsightly
• scream, screech, shriek, yell
• caution, cue, hint, prompt, tip-off, warn
• babe, baby, bairn, child, infant, kid, moppet, offspring, toddler, tot, tyke, youngster
• bit by bit, by degrees, drop by drop, gradually, imperceptibly, inch by inch, little by little, piece by piece, piecemeal, step by step