Happy, glad, delighted. Big, large, enormous. Learn how synonyms differ in strength, formality and feeling, and choose the exact word every time.
A rich vocabulary is not about knowing difficult words. It is about choosing the exact word for the moment. Synonyms, words with the same or nearly the same meaning, give you that choice, and they are one of the quickest ways to make your speech and writing clearer, more precise and more interesting.
This guide explains what synonyms are, why true synonyms are rare, and how to choose between them. Its main part gives 167 common words with 698 synonyms and an example sentence for each, grouped by theme. It also includes a table of weak words with stronger replacements, common mistakes, key points, ten practice questions and a teacher activity.
It builds on Parts of Speech and connects with Phrasal Verbs, Formal vs. Informal English and Common Errors in English. Spelling in this guide follows British English.
A synonym is a word that has the same, or almost the same, meaning as another word in the same language. The word comes from Greek roots meaning "with the name". For example, begin and start, rapid and swift, enormous and huge are synonyms.
Synonyms can be nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs, but a word and its synonym must belong to the same part of speech: happy (adjective) matches cheerful (adjective), not happiness (noun).
Very few words mean exactly the same in every situation. Words that look alike usually differ in one of these ways, which is why a thesaurus must be used with care.
| Difference | Example | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | pleased, happy, delighted, overjoyed | The words rise in strength of feeling. |
| Formality | buy and purchase; start and commence | The second word in each pair is more formal. |
| Attitude (connotation) | thrifty and stingy; determined and stubborn | Each pair has a similar meaning but praises or criticises. |
| Common word partners | a heavy rain, not a strong rain; a strong tea, not a heavy tea | Some words are only used with certain partners. |
| Region | lift (British) and elevator (American); autumn and fall | Some synonyms belong to a different region. |
| Grammar pattern | say, tell | He told me but He said to me; the patterns differ. |
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute (true) synonyms | Identical in meaning in all contexts; very rare | sofa and couch (in most uses) |
| Near-synonyms | Very close but different in strength or feeling | angry, furious, irritated |
| Contextual synonyms | Synonyms only in a particular context | fair and just (a fair or just decision), but not a fair complexion |
| Formal and informal pairs | Same meaning, different style | kids and children; buy and purchase |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| happy | glad, cheerful, delighted, joyful, content | The delighted students celebrated their results. |
| sad | unhappy, sorrowful, gloomy, miserable, downcast | He felt gloomy after the long journey. |
| angry | cross, furious, irate, enraged, indignant | The customer was irate about the delay. |
| afraid | scared, frightened, fearful, terrified, alarmed | The children were terrified by the storm. |
| surprised | amazed, astonished, startled, stunned | She was astonished by the sudden announcement. |
| tired | weary, exhausted, drained, fatigued, worn out | The exhausted climbers rested at the camp. |
| excited | thrilled, eager, enthusiastic, exhilarated | The crowd was thrilled by the final goal. |
| calm | peaceful, tranquil, serene, composed | The lake was calm and serene at dawn. |
| proud | pleased, satisfied, honoured, triumphant | The parents were proud of their daughter's success. |
| worried | anxious, concerned, uneasy, apprehensive | He felt anxious before the interview. |
| jealous | envious, resentful, covetous | She was envious of her friend's talent. |
| lonely | isolated, solitary, friendless, forlorn | The old man felt isolated in the village. |
| nervous | tense, edgy, jittery, restless | The nervous candidate waited outside the room. |
| embarrassed | ashamed, awkward, abashed, self-conscious | He felt awkward after forgetting her name. |
| confused | puzzled, baffled, bewildered, perplexed | The instructions left us baffled. |
| bored | uninterested, weary, restless, fed up | The audience grew restless during the lecture. |
| grateful | thankful, appreciative, obliged, indebted | We are grateful for your generous help. |
| hopeful | optimistic, confident, positive, expectant | The team remained optimistic despite the setback. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| kind | generous, caring, considerate, compassionate | The compassionate nurse comforted the patient. |
| clever | intelligent, bright, smart, brilliant, gifted | The gifted student solved the problem quickly. |
| brave | courageous, fearless, bold, heroic, valiant | The courageous firefighter rescued the family. |
| lazy | idle, indolent, sluggish, slothful | The sluggish worker missed every deadline. |
| honest | truthful, sincere, upright, trustworthy | A trustworthy witness told the truth. |
| rude | impolite, discourteous, insolent, disrespectful | The insolent reply shocked the teacher. |
| polite | courteous, respectful, civil, well-mannered | The courteous clerk greeted every customer. |
| stubborn | obstinate, headstrong, determined, unyielding | The obstinate mule refused to move. |
| shy | timid, bashful, reserved, reticent | The timid girl hid behind her mother. |
| friendly | sociable, warm, approachable, amiable | Our amiable neighbour welcomed us. |
| mean | stingy, miserly, selfish, tight-fisted | The miserly landlord refused to repair the roof. |
| careful | cautious, attentive, prudent, vigilant | Be cautious when crossing the river. |
| careless | negligent, reckless, thoughtless, sloppy | The negligent driver caused an accident. |
| wise | sensible, prudent, sagacious, judicious | She made a judicious choice of subjects. |
| funny | amusing, comical, humorous, witty | The comical clown entertained the children. |
| strange | odd, peculiar, unusual, bizarre | A peculiar noise came from the attic. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| big | large, huge, enormous, vast, gigantic | An enormous crowd filled the stadium. |
| small | little, tiny, minute, compact, miniature | The compact car fits into small spaces. |
| fat | plump, stout, overweight, heavy | The plump baby laughed happily. |
| thin | slim, slender, lean, skinny, slight | The slender girl won the race. |
| tall | high, lofty, towering, lanky | A towering tree stood beside the road. |
| short | brief, concise, compact, little | Her speech was brief and clear. |
| long | lengthy, extended, prolonged, protracted | The meeting was lengthy and tiring. |
| wide | broad, extensive, spacious, expansive | A broad river flows through the valley. |
| many | numerous, several, countless, plenty of | Numerous visitors came to the fair. |
| few | scarce, rare, limited, hardly any | Rainfall is scarce in the desert. |
| whole | entire, complete, full, total | She read the entire book in one night. |
| empty | vacant, hollow, bare, unoccupied | The vacant house stood by the road. |
| full | packed, crowded, filled, loaded | The hall was packed with students. |
| extra | additional, spare, further, added | Please bring an additional chair. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| good | excellent, fine, superb, splendid, first-class | The chef prepared a superb meal. |
| bad | poor, awful, dreadful, terrible, inferior | The dreadful weather ruined our picnic. |
| important | vital, essential, significant, crucial, major | Sleep is vital for good health. |
| difficult | hard, tough, demanding, challenging, tricky | The exam was challenging but fair. |
| easy | simple, effortless, straightforward, painless | The instructions were straightforward. |
| beautiful | lovely, attractive, gorgeous, stunning, elegant | The stunning view amazed the tourists. |
| ugly | unattractive, hideous, unsightly, plain | The hideous statue was removed. |
| interesting | fascinating, absorbing, engaging, intriguing | The engaging lecture held everyone's attention. |
| boring | dull, tedious, monotonous, tiresome | The tedious task took hours. |
| new | modern, fresh, recent, novel, latest | The novel idea impressed the committee. |
| old | ancient, aged, elderly, antique, outdated | The ancient temple attracted pilgrims. |
| rich | wealthy, affluent, prosperous, well-off | The affluent family owned several houses. |
| poor | needy, destitute, impoverished, penniless | The charity helps impoverished families. |
| dirty | filthy, grubby, soiled, unclean | The filthy floor needed scrubbing. |
| clean | spotless, pure, tidy, immaculate | The immaculate kitchen sparkled. |
| strong | powerful, sturdy, robust, mighty | The sturdy bridge survived the flood. |
| weak | feeble, frail, fragile, powerless | The frail patient needed rest. |
| famous | well-known, renowned, celebrated, notable | The renowned scientist gave a lecture. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| say | state, declare, announce, remark, mention | The principal announced the results. |
| ask | enquire, question, request, query | She enquired about the admission date. |
| answer | reply, respond, retort, rejoin | He replied politely to the letter. |
| shout | yell, cry out, bellow, roar | The coach bellowed instructions from the sideline. |
| whisper | murmur, mutter, mumble, breathe | She murmured a few words to her friend. |
| tell | inform, notify, advise, relate | Please inform the office of any change. |
| explain | clarify, describe, illustrate, interpret | The teacher clarified the difficult rule. |
| talk | chat, converse, discuss, speak | The delegates conversed about trade. |
| argue | quarrel, dispute, debate, bicker | The neighbours disputed the boundary. |
| agree | consent, concur, accept, approve | The committee concurred with the proposal. |
| refuse | decline, reject, deny, turn down | She declined the invitation politely. |
| complain | protest, grumble, object, grieve | Residents protested about the noise. |
| praise | compliment, commend, applaud, admire | The judges commended her courage. |
| warn | caution, alert, advise, forewarn | The guide cautioned us about the steep path. |
| promise | vow, pledge, swear, guarantee | He pledged to repay the loan. |
| laugh | giggle, chuckle, chortle, snigger | The children giggled at the joke. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| walk | stroll, stride, march, wander, pace | We strolled along the beach. |
| run | sprint, dash, jog, race, hurry | The athlete sprinted to the finish line. |
| jump | leap, hop, bound, spring, vault | The deer leapt over the fence. |
| look | glance, stare, gaze, peer, observe | He gazed at the stars for hours. |
| see | notice, spot, observe, witness, glimpse | She spotted her friend in the crowd. |
| hear | listen, overhear, catch, detect | I overheard an interesting conversation. |
| make | create, build, produce, construct, form | The workers constructed a new bridge. |
| break | smash, shatter, crack, fracture, snap | The glass shattered on the floor. |
| fix | repair, mend, restore, correct | The mechanic repaired the engine. |
| begin | start, commence, launch, initiate | The festival commences on Friday. |
| end | finish, conclude, complete, terminate | The ceremony concluded at noon. |
| stop | halt, cease, pause, quit, discontinue | The factory ceased production. |
| help | assist, aid, support, serve | Volunteers assisted the injured. |
| give | offer, donate, present, provide, grant | The company donated books to the school. |
| take | grab, seize, snatch, obtain, collect | He seized the opportunity. |
| show | display, reveal, exhibit, demonstrate | The museum exhibits ancient coins. |
| hide | conceal, cover, mask, bury, shelter | The thief concealed the stolen jewels. |
| choose | select, pick, decide on, elect | The class elected a new monitor. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| think | consider, reflect, ponder, believe, suppose | He pondered the question carefully. |
| know | understand, recognise, realise, grasp | She grasped the idea quickly. |
| learn | study, master, discover, pick up | Students master the rules through practice. |
| remember | recall, recollect, memorise, reminisce | I recall meeting him last year. |
| forget | overlook, neglect, disregard, omit | Do not overlook small details. |
| try | attempt, endeavour, strive, aim | They endeavoured to finish on time. |
| want | desire, wish, crave, long for | He desires a career in medicine. |
| need | require, demand, lack, call for | The project requires careful planning. |
| like | enjoy, admire, favour, appreciate | I appreciate good poetry. |
| hate | detest, loathe, despise, dislike | She detests dishonesty. |
| love | adore, cherish, treasure, be fond of | He cherishes his childhood memories. |
| decide | resolve, determine, settle, conclude | The board resolved to expand the school. |
| solve | answer, work out, crack, unravel | Engineers solved the problem. |
| guess | estimate, suppose, predict, reckon | I estimate the cost at fifty pounds. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| quick | fast, rapid, swift, speedy, prompt | The swift reply surprised us. |
| slow | sluggish, gradual, unhurried, leisurely | A leisurely walk relaxed her. |
| hot | warm, boiling, scorching, sweltering | The scorching sun burned the fields. |
| cold | chilly, cool, freezing, icy, bitter | A bitter wind blew from the north. |
| wet | damp, soaked, moist, soggy | The soaked travellers sought shelter. |
| dry | arid, parched, barren, dehydrated | The parched land awaited rain. |
| loud | noisy, deafening, thunderous, booming | The thunderous applause lasted a minute. |
| quiet | silent, hushed, still, peaceful | The hushed library invited concentration. |
| dark | dim, gloomy, shadowy, murky | A dim light flickered in the cellar. |
| bright | brilliant, radiant, shining, vivid | The vivid colours attracted visitors. |
| sure | certain, confident, positive, convinced | I am certain of the answer. |
| often | frequently, regularly, repeatedly, commonly | He visits the library frequently. |
| usually | normally, generally, typically, ordinarily | She typically arrives at eight. |
| suddenly | abruptly, unexpectedly, all at once | The engine stopped abruptly. |
| Word | Synonyms | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| benevolent | kind, charitable, altruistic, magnanimous | The benevolent trustee funded a free school. |
| malevolent | spiteful, malicious, vindictive, hostile | A malevolent rumour damaged her reputation. |
| frugal | thrifty, economical, sparing, prudent | A frugal family saves part of every wage. |
| lavish | extravagant, opulent, generous, profuse | The palace hosted a lavish banquet. |
| ephemeral | fleeting, transient, short-lived, momentary | Fame in the digital age can be ephemeral. |
| permanent | lasting, enduring, perpetual, everlasting | The agreement created a permanent peace. |
| obstinate | stubborn, headstrong, intransigent, pig-headed | The obstinate official ignored every appeal. |
| meticulous | thorough, painstaking, scrupulous, exacting | The editor was meticulous about accuracy. |
| eloquent | articulate, fluent, expressive, persuasive | An eloquent speech moved the jury. |
| verbose | wordy, long-winded, rambling, prolix | The verbose report hid the main point. |
| concise | brief, succinct, terse, compact | Write a concise summary of the passage. |
| candid | frank, blunt, outspoken, forthright | She gave a candid account of the failure. |
| cunning | crafty, sly, shrewd, devious | The cunning fox escaped the trap. |
| reluctant | unwilling, hesitant, loath, disinclined | He was reluctant to leave his hometown. |
| abundant | plentiful, ample, copious, profuse | The valley has abundant fresh water. |
| scarce | rare, sparse, meagre, insufficient | Food became scarce during the siege. |
| vital | essential, crucial, indispensable, imperative | Evidence is vital to a fair trial. |
| trivial | minor, petty, insignificant, negligible | They quarrelled over a trivial matter. |
| ambiguous | unclear, vague, equivocal, uncertain | The ambiguous clause confused the buyers. |
| inevitable | unavoidable, certain, inescapable, destined | Defeat seemed inevitable after the first half. |
| diligent | hardworking, industrious, conscientious, assiduous | A diligent student revises every day. |
| arrogant | haughty, conceited, pompous, overbearing | The arrogant manager ignored advice. |
| humble | modest, meek, unassuming, lowly | The humble scholar refused any praise. |
| hostile | unfriendly, antagonistic, aggressive, belligerent | The hostile reception surprised the envoy. |
| flourish | thrive, prosper, blossom, boom | Trade began to flourish along the coast. |
| hinder | obstruct, hamper, impede, hold back | Heavy snow hindered the rescue. |
| abolish | end, scrap, eliminate, do away with | Parliament voted to abolish the tax. |
| conceal | hide, mask, disguise, cloak | The report concealed several key facts. |
| reveal | disclose, expose, unveil, divulge | The study revealed a surprising trend. |
| condemn | denounce, censure, criticise, blame | Leaders condemned the violence. |
| endure | bear, tolerate, withstand, suffer | The villagers endured years of drought. |
| abandon | desert, forsake, relinquish, leave | The crew abandoned the sinking ship. |
| fragile | delicate, brittle, frail, breakable | Pack the fragile vase carefully. |
| ordinary | common, usual, routine, mundane | It was an ordinary day until the call came. |
| vanish | disappear, fade, dissolve, evaporate | The mist began to vanish at sunrise. |
| persuade | convince, urge, coax, induce | She persuaded him to apply. |
| tolerate | accept, endure, permit, allow | The school will not tolerate bullying. |
| scrutinise | examine, inspect, study, analyse | Auditors scrutinised the accounts. |
| obsolete | outdated, outmoded, archaic, redundant | The old machine became obsolete. |
In examinations, phrases such as very good or very big can sound plain. Replace very plus an adjective with one stronger word.
| Weak phrase | Stronger word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| very good | excellent | The excellent results pleased the school. |
| very bad | dreadful | The dreadful smell filled the room. |
| very big | enormous | They live in an enormous house. |
| very small | tiny | A tiny insect crawled across the page. |
| very tired | exhausted | The exhausted runner collapsed at the finish. |
| very hungry | starving | The starving travellers reached the village. |
| very happy | delighted | She was delighted by the news. |
| very sad | miserable | He felt miserable after the defeat. |
| very angry | furious | The manager was furious about the mistake. |
| very cold | freezing | The water was freezing. |
| very hot | boiling | It was a boiling afternoon in June. |
| very scared | terrified | The child was terrified of the dark. |
| very important | vital | Clean water is vital for health. |
| very interesting | fascinating | The documentary was fascinating. |
| very clean | spotless | The spotless classroom impressed the inspector. |
| very dirty | filthy | The filthy windows needed cleaning. |
| very old | ancient | They visited an ancient fort. |
| very pretty | stunning | The stunning garden won first prize. |
| very clever | brilliant | The brilliant student topped the class. |
| very quiet | silent | The silent hall waited for the speaker. |
| Mistake | Better habit |
|---|---|
| Using a long word you do not fully understand | Use a synonym only after checking its meaning in a dictionary. |
| Ignoring formality (The kids commenced the activity) | Match the word to the situation: The children began the activity. |
| Ignoring attitude (He is a stingy manager when you mean careful) | Choose a word with the right attitude: thrifty or careful. |
| Wrong word partners (do a mistake) | Use make a mistake; learn words with their partners. |
| Wrong grammar pattern (He explained me the rule) | Use He explained the rule to me. |
| Changing every simple word | Keep simple words when they are clear; use synonyms to avoid repetition. |
Activity: give students a short paragraph full of plain words such as good, big, said and ask them to replace each with a more exact synonym, then compare choices in pairs and explain which word is stronger or more formal. A synonym ladder (for example tired, weary, exhausted) helps younger students understand strength.
Please note: this guide uses British spelling, and the synonyms shown are common choices, not complete lists. The best synonym always depends on the sentence.
10 questions. Select an answer for each, then submit to see your score instantly.