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Synonym - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same language, often used to avoid repetition or add variety.

synonym

/ˈsɪnəˌnɪm/ /ˈsɪnənɪm/

Definition:

A word or phrase that means nearly the same as another word or phrase.

Synonyms:

equivalent, substitute, alternate, parallel

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

antonym, opposite

Common Collocations:

close synonym, exact synonym, partial synonym, near synonym

Derivatives:

synonymous, synonymy

Usage Tips:

Use 'synonym' to avoid repetition or clarify meaning by substituting a similar word in context.

Common Phrases:

synonym for, synonymous with, in other words

Etymology:

From Greek 'syn-' (together) + '-onym' (name), meaning "same name."

Examples:

  • 1. "Happy" is a synonym for "joyful."
  • 2. Can you think of a synonym for "big"?
  • 3. The words "begin" and "start" are synonyms.
  • 4. A thesaurus lists synonyms to help writers vary their language.

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