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Synonyms (in ancient Greek syn 'συν' = plus and onoma 'όνομα' = name) are different words with similar or identical meanings and are interchangeable. Antonym s are words with opposite or nearly opposite meanings. (''Synonym'' and ''antonym'' are antonyms.)

An example of synonyms are the words '' Cat '' and '' Feline ''. Each describes any member of the family ''Felidae''. Similarly, if we talk about a ''long time'' or an ''extended time'', ''long'' and ''extended'' become synonyms.

In the figurative sense, two words are often said to be synonymous if they have the same connotation:

:"a widespread impression that … Hollywood was synonymous with immorality" (Doris Kearns Goodwin)

Synonyms can be Noun s, Adverb s or Adjective s, as long as both members of the pair are the same Part Of Speech .

More examples of English synonyms:

  • ''baby'' and ''infant'' (noun)

  • ''student'' and ''pupil'' (noun)

  • ''pretty'' and ''attractive'' (adjective)

  • ''sick'' and ''ill'' (adjective)

  • ''interesting'' and ''fascinating'' (adjective)

  • ''quickly'' and ''speedily'' (adverb)


Note that the synonyms are defined with respect to certain senses of words; for instance, ''pupil'' as the ''"aperture in the iris of the eye"'' is not synonymous with student. Similarly, ''expired'' as ''"having lost validity"'' (as in grocery goods) doesn't necessarily mean death.

Some s.

The purpose of a Thesaurus is to offer the user a listing of similar or related words; these are often, but not always, synonyms. In a way, Hyponym s are similar to synonyms.

In contrast, Antonym s (an opposite pair) would be:
  • ''dead'' and ''alive'' (compare to synonyms: ''dead'' and ''deceased'')

  • ''near'' and ''far'' (compare to synonyms: ''near'' and ''close'')

  • ''war'' and ''peace'' (compare to synonyms: ''war'' and ''armed conflict'')

  • ''tremendous'' and ''awful'' (compare to synonyms: ''tremendous'' and ''remarkable'')


In biology, synonym is used with a closely defined meaning, different for animals and plants, see Synonym (zoology) and Synonym (botany) .


See also

  • Homonym s, words that sound alike, or are spelled alike, but mean different things, such as ''too'' and ''two''; ''there'' and ''their''; or ''fluke'' (of luck) and ''fluke'' (of a whale).

  • -onym