Synonyms
Synonyms
Synonyms
Synonyms are words that are commonly supposed to have the same meaning, but in reality, they have a fine difference in meaning.
A list of Synonyms with illustrations is given below:
Synonyms
1. Alter (partial change/modification): The teacher made some alterations while he checked my notebook.
Change ( to be entirely different): Raja changed his car.
2. Allow (absence of restraint; it is negative in sense): It seems that his parents allow him to make a quarrel.
Permit (to give permission after definite agreement): We wanted to use the leisure room as our library and the principal permitted.
3. Answer (answer is to a question): Answer the questions in brief.
Reply (it is to a charge): He charged me of stealing and I gave a legal reply.
4. Ancient (not modern): Ancient Indian history is full of pride and glory.
5. Abdicate (spoken only of a king giving up his throne): King Edward abdicated his throne because of his love to a girl.
Resign (to give up any post high or low): The secretary had resigned his post.
6. Admit (to acknowledge some fact): Namita admitted that she had bought the book.
Confess (to accept responsibility for some crime): The boy confessed that he stole the bicycle.
7. Amusement (something done to occupy the vacant mind): Watching outdoor games is my amusement.
Recreation (Something done to refresh the mind after hard work): I take a long walk in the evening for my recreation.
Diversion (Something that turns the mind away from thought or work): The arrival of the president became a source of diversion for the students.
8. Abstain (to keep away from a thing): We should abstain from wine.
Refrain (to keep away from some action): We should refrain from gambling.
9. Accustomed (to) (used to a thing or habit): In my boyhood, I was accustomed to early rising.
Addicted to (to be habituated to something undesirable): Kanak is addicted to wine.
10. Accept (to agree to some request, invitation etc.): I have accepted Kamala’s invitation and went there.
Acknowledge (to recognise the claims of others): He acknowledged that Ram is the real heir of the kingdom.
(Synonyms)
11. Act (something done): We should act upon the advice of our parents.
Feat (an act of skill): She showed her feat in doing the work.
12. Absolute (without any check, restraint, or condition): He became the absolute ruler of the land.
Autocratic (to rule without caring for any rules and regulations): The kings of Nepal were autocratic.
Despotic (tyrannical/oppressive): Chenghis Khan was a despotic leader of the Mongols.
13. Apprehend (to understand a little): I apprehend only the general sense of what he says.
Comprehend (to understand fully): I comprehended what he said.
14. Accident (an unwelcome event): He died in an accident.
Incident (an event, occurrence): Our history is full of remarkable incidents.
15. Avocation ( any work taken up for the sake of pleasure, not primarily with the intention of earning money): Writing is my avocation.
Vocation ( the main business or profession through which one earns one’s livelihood): Writing of educational books is my vocation.
16. Avenge (to inflict just punishment privately for a wrong done to another; it does not imply satisfaction of any personal grudge): In ancient Arab hostilities continued for generations and wrong done to the father were often avenged by the sons.
Revenge ( to inflict punishment for wrongs done to one’s own self, the purpose being to gratify personal grudge): Ram is ready to take revenge for the wrong done to him.
17. Anticipate ( to expect some trouble or difficulty in future): I have anticipated that he would forbid me to visit Pakistan.
Forestall ( to take steps to prevent some future trouble ): Our Government had forestalled many soldiers in the India- Pakistan Border during the Kargil War.
18. Astonishment (unpleasant surprise ): I am astonished that he has become my friend.
Wonder ( surprise mingled with praise): We wondered at his sudden success.
19. Beautiful (used for a woman or for a thing considered feminine): Sita is a beautiful girl.
Handsome (used for man or object considered masculine): Rakib is a handsome boy.
(Synonyms)
20. Battle (an armed fight between two armies): The Battle of Sharaighat took place between the Ahoms and the Mughals.
War (war consists of a series of battles ): In the Second World War some millions of people were killed intentionally.
21. Fight ( a fight is usually between two or more persons and not between armies): Ramanon was badly wounded in the fight.
Duel (an armed fight between two persons ): The duel is no longer in fashion.
22. Busy ( actually doing some work): We are very busy now with our mission.
Diligent (a person of hard-working habits): Habib is a diligent young boy.
23. Discover (to find out something which already existed but was unknown to men ): Columbus discovered America.
Invent (to find out or make something new): Marconi invented wireless.
24. Begin (it is a general word and can be used in reference to any action ): I began to read at 12 o’clock yesterday.
Commence (used for beginning something important): Our Annual Sports will commence on 3rd February.
Synonyms
Start ( used only for physical movement ): The bus started at 4 O’clock.
25. Crime ( to do something against the law of a country): Bribery is a crime.
Vice (something against the law of morality): Drinking is said to be a vice.
Sin (Something against the law of religion): Telling a lie is a sin.
26. Character ( A man’s qualities which make him good or bad): Rakesh is respected by all because of his good and ideal character.
Reputation (praise received for some noble action): He earned a reputation by dint of welfare deeds to the masses.
27. Custom (refers to the habitual actions of a society): Taking veils even at a young age is a custom in Arabian society.
Habit (it refers to the usual practice of an individual): My habit is to take a banana with milk.
28. Cite (used for reference to both person or thing): The subject of the letter to the minister is cited above.
Quote (used for passage from a book): Quote a line from Shakespeare in support of your comment.
(Synonyms)
29. Ceiling (the inner part of the covering of a house): The ceiling of the house is made of plastic pieces.
Roof (Outer part of the covering of a house): The roof of the house is made of straw.
30. Common (that which two or more persons share or are interested in): Book reading is a common habit of my friends.
Mutual (that which is reciprocal or is interchanged): Ram and Shaym agreed to mutual help.
31. Comply (to obey a wish or order): The boy complied with my order.
Conform (to follow rules and regulations): Kanak agreed to conform with the discipline of the institute.
32. Command (it implies an order of a superior officer as-king, queen, military officer etc. to lower persons): The General commanded the army to march forward.
Order (an order is for particular acts): The host ordered the servant to close the gate.
Injunction (a direction from a superior authority like law courts regarding general conduct): The Magistrate sent an injunction to Ramen to attend the court.
33. Credible (believable): Your story is quite credible.
Synonyms
Credulous (a person who easily believes others): Nabin is often cheated by others because of his credulous nature.
34. Contagious (a disease that is easily caught by touch alone): Smallpox is a contagious disease.
35. Infection (a disease that spreads through air and water even without touch): Cholera is an infectious disease.
36. Contentment (satisfaction of mind of a person whose desires are limited): After getting the job of a clerk Ramen felt full contentment.
Satisfaction (the gratification of one’s desire): His company gives me satisfaction.
37. Compulsion (to be compelled to do something by the pressure of circumstance): Babul had left the village under the compulsion of poverty.
Obligation (it implies a moral duty which a person must perform): We are under an obligation to respect our elders.
38. Drown (used only for animals and human beings): Kalam drowned in the river and died.
Sink (used only for lifeless things): The boat sank in the pond.
(Synonyms)
39. Deny (used with reference to some facts): She denied that she had committed the sin.
Refuse (used with reference to a request): He refused to help me.
40. Delightful (that which gives pleasure to the mind and senses): Football is a delightful game for me.
Delicious (used only with reference to the sense of taste): The supper last night was very delicious.
41. Distinguish (to recognize broad differences): Please distinguish the achievements of Akbar and Shahjahan.
Discriminate (to point out the minute difference): Only a perfect critic can discriminate the difference between Socialism and communism.
42. Doubt (used with reference to some fact or statement and implies that what is doubted is wrong): I have doubted about his success.
Synonyms
Suspect (it is used with reference to persons only and implies what is suspected is true): I suspect Hari to be a dishonourable man.
43. Efficacious (producing the desired result): The medicine given to you is proved very efficacious.
Efficient (competent): Naliniwala was an efficient poetess of Assam.
44. Effective (having the desired effect): Effective measures have been taken to control the terrorists.
Effectual (that which serves the desired purposefully): His advice proved effectual.
45. Envy (ill-will or discontentment at some superiority enjoyed by others): Ranin is envious of his friend’s prosperity.
Jealous (anxiously careful of, or concerned for something or someone) Nanak is a jealous advocate of modern poetry.
47. Error (a slight fault of judgment): There may have some errors in the book.
Mistake (to take one thing or person for another): I mistake him for a doctor.
Blunder (mistake of a serious kind): Even some teachers commit a serious blunder in solving such a calculation.
47. Enough (refers to the quantity of something which a person desires): He has earned enough black money.
Sufficient (refers to the actual needs of a person): I am still unable to earn sufficient money to support my family.
48.Famous (used in a good sense): Navakanta Baruah is a famous Assamese poet.
Notorious (used in a bad sense): Usama Bin Laden is said to be a notorious terrorist.
(Synonyms)
49. Forgiveness (related to the matter of a serious nature): He stole the chest and asked for forgiveness.
Pardon (used only for matters of less importance): please pardon me as I can not meet you.
50. Falsehood (telling something wrong but without the intention of deceiving anybody): It is a falsehood to tell that we can live in the jungle.
Lie (telling something wrong with the intention of deceiving others): I generally do not tell a lie.
51. Grateful (used for conduct to anybody for a favour done to us): I am very grateful to the publisher for rendering me a helping hand.
Thankful ( it is a state of a person’s mind): I am thankful to all my colleagues for their help rendered to me.
52. General (not special or particular): A general meeting was called for the purpose of raising money.
Synonyms
Universal (all-inclusive): In the sonnets by William Shakespeare there is a universal appeal of love.
53. House (the four walls within which one lives): We live in an Assam-type house.
Home (a house with its belongings): charity begins at home.
54. Haste (quickness in doing something): Make haste, otherwise we will miss the train.
Hurry (quickness with confusion): We left the luggage in a hurry.
55. Idle (not busy; without work): I am sitting idleLazy (it is used for habit): Kamala is lazy and she cannot succeed.
56. Imminent (about to happen): Our examination is imminent.
Immanent (all-pervading): God is immanent.
57. Instigate (to urge a person to do some evil): The political leaders are seen to remain under the screen in the acts of instigating communal riots.
Incite (inspire a person to some action): My dear students incited me to compose the book.
58. Justice (it is based on the law of a country): Justice was given him in spite of opposition.
Equity (it is something moral and refers to our sense of right and wrong): It is our demand to get equity in all economic matters.
59. Keep (to put something safely for a long time): Keep the purse in the table.
place (to put for the time being): please place the bucket on the floor.
60. Kill (cause to death): Nabin was killed in the last battle.
Murder (to put someone to death intentionally): Chandra was murdered by his enemy.
(Synonyms)
61. Liberal (not miserly): He is liberal in all matters.
Generous (it refers to the nobleness of feeling): Mahatmaji was generous to the poor.
62. Libel (to defame through something written or printed): The young writer was punished for libelling the minister.
Slander (to defame through spoken words): He was brought to book for slandering his neighbour.
63. Loyalty (faithfulness to a person, party or cause): Kamala’s loyalty to the party is praiseworthy.
Allegiance (duty to one’s king or ruler): The allegiance of the foreigners to India is doubtful.
64. Misfortune (it is individual or personal ill-luck): His failure in the examination is said to be his misfortune.
Calamity (it is widespread ill-luck): During summer the people of Assam meet an unbearable calamity.
65. Probable (that which is expected to happen): It is probable that the Chinese may attack India.
Possible (that which can take place in the course of time): It is possible for us to travel the world in a day.
Synonyms
66. Protect (to try to save from future danger): We should protect our environment.
Defend (to try to save from present danger): A garrison was placed there to defend the frontiers.
67. Part (it is a general term): The left part of the house was decorated by his parents.
Portion (it refers to the part set aside for special purpose): The portion of the property was set aside to distribute among the poor.
68. Rural (pertaining to the villages): Rural life is peaceful.
Rustic (uncultured): The rustic villagers made an uproar.
69. Redress (to do justice to one who has been wronged): At last he was redressed from the charge of stealing.
Relief (it is an act of kindness): The N.G.O. raised a relief fund for the poor.
70. Recollect (to call to mind what one has forgotten): I failed to recollect the name of the newcomer.
Remember (to call to mind without any difficulty): I remember your name forever.
(Synonyms)
71. Replace (it means to take away something old and put a new thing in its place): Please replace the pen by a new one.
Substitute (to put one thing for another): There is no substitute for water.
72. Strict (it is used for one who sticks to certain rules and regulations): Our principal is a strict disciplinarian.
Severe (one who punishes for the least violation of rules and regulations): We were severely punished for breaking discipline.
73. Social (related to society): We are social beings.
Sociable (fitted for society): We like Ramen for his sociable nature.
74. Stop (not to move): The bus stops here for five minutes.
Stay (to remain with someone for some time): The child now stays with his grandmother.
75. Simulate: (to pretend to be what one is not): He simulated to be a nobleman and cheated my friend.
Dissimulate (to hide what one really is): Kanak dissimulated and said that he was a doctor.
76. Sensitive (quick to take an impression from external objects): Karim is very sensitive to any melody.
Sensible (wise): We can rely on a sensible man.
77. Trade (it is a general term and can be used to denote either small scale or large scale business): Ramesh trades in tea.
Commerce (it is always on a large scale and with foreign countries): Indian commerce with foreign countries has been increasing day by day.
78. Temporary (that which lasts only for a short time): He is a temporary employee in this industry.
Temporal (worldly): Along with our temporal life we should practise the spiritual side of life.
79. Truce (Stoppage of hostility for a short time): The two parties come to a truce to stop their hostilities for two days.
Treaty (an agreement that indicates the end of a war): The Treaty of Versailles was illegal.
80. Visitor (one who visits a place or anybody): The two visitors gave me much trouble asking my private matters.
Visitant (used only for one who comes from another world as an angel, ghosts etc): William Blake, an English poet demanded that he met a visitant while he was playing in the open field.
81. Vacant (not filled at the present moment, but previously occupied): Ranin was given temporary employment in the vacant post of a teacher.
Empty (having nothing): Please fill the empty vessel with milk.
82. Wages (money paid to servants, labourers usually daily or weekly): I pay 200/- daily to the ward-boy as his wages.
Salary (money paid to highly placed persons; it is monthly or yearly): His salary as a teacher is more than 30,000.00 per month. 0 0 0
(Synonyms)
N.B. The article ‘Synonyms’ originally belongs to the book ‘School English Grammar Part- II‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Composition by M. Menonimus:
- Advertisement Writing
- Amplification Writing
- Note Making
- Paragraph Writing
- Notice Writing
- Passage Comprehension
- The Art of Poster Writing
- The Art of Letter Writing
- Report Writing
- Story Writing
- Substance Writing
- School Essays Part-I
- School Essays Part-II
- School English Grammar Part-I
- School English Grammar Part-II..
Books on Linguistics by M. Menonimus:
- A Brief History of the English Language
- Essays on Linguistics
- My Imageries
- Felicitous Expression: Some Examples
- Learners’ English Dictionary
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