2.

5 SYNONYMS

meaning to another word. Finding the

have related
Synonyms are words that are similar or a
is
right
learners unless the knowledge of root words really strong
synonym can be a real task to the
alike in meaning. For example
almost impossible to find two words or more words exactly the
valour means
Synony mslike braver, daring, boldness. gallaniry, heroism, audacity, courage.
all of these have different shades of meanings. Valour is a stronger word than bravery or daring and
these words are used for action which commands admiration. On the other hand, gallantry an
d
heroism imply magnanimous self-sacrifice.
Synonyms can be any part of speech (such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs or prepositions). a
long as both words belong to the same part of speech. Here are some examples of English synonyms

verb- flourish and thrive

adjective- attractive and stunning
adverb - advertently and inadvertently

preposition- towards and forwards

It is to be noted that 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. Likewise, he expired means the
same as he died, yet my passport has expired cannot be replaced by my passport has died.

There is a certain skill involved in choosing the most appropriate synonym. Against this
background. context becomes an important tool in assisting to identify the synonym because some
synonyms can inject a different meaning than the one intended. For example, one synonym for sad
is gloomy. However, this word carries quite a negative connotation. Depending on the cireumstances
it can be used, but if we just want to say that someone is down, then another synonym such as blae
or unhapPy would be more applicable.

2.5.1 EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1: Here is a list of words and their synonyms that are commonly used to deseribe
people.
LIST 1
. Baffle: confuse, deceive
unbiased
2. Fair: just, objective, impartial,
3. Funny: humorous, comical, hilarious, hysterical
4. Honest: honourable, fair, sincere, trustworthy

5. Happy: content, joyful, mirthlul, upbeat

 Himalaya's Functional English
Page | 75
Hardworking:
6. diligent, determined, enterprising
1 Hypocrisy: duplicity, falseness
Important: required, substantial, vital,
essential, primary, significant, requisite, critical
9. Intelligent: smart, bright, brilliant, sharp
10. Introvert: shy, bashful, quiet, withdrawn
11. Kind: thoughtful, considerate, amiable, gracious
12. Lazy: idle, lackadaisical, lethargic
13 Old: antique, ancient, obsolete, extinct, past, prehistoric, venerable, aged
14. Outgoing: friendly, sociable, warm, extrovert
15. Pacify: appease, placate
16. Recalcitrant: obstinate, stubborn
17. Turbulent: disordered, violent
18. True: genuine, reliable, factual, accurate, precise, correct, valid, real
19. Valid: authorized, legitimate
20. Weak: frail, anemic, feeble, infirm, languid, sluggish, puny, fragile

EXAMPLE II : Here is a comprehensive list of synonyms for reference

LIST 2
27. bourgeois : middle class
abdicate: repounce
28. cache :hiding place
2 abject :(of a condition) wretched
abominate : loathe 29. cadaver :corpse
3.
30. cadence : rhythm
4. acetic: vinegary
31. celestial :heavenly
5. acme: peak
32. certitude :certainty
6. adroit: skillful
33. censorious: severely critical
7. advert: refer
34. censure: blame, criticize
8. aegis: shield 35. chaffing :bantering joking
9 affable: friendly 36. chaotic: disorder
10. affected: pretended 37. cajole coax, wheedle
11. agog: highly excited 38. calamity :disaster, misery
2. aggregate: sum
39. callous :hardened, unfeeling
13. agility: nimbleness 40. callow: youthful
14. agitate: stir up, disturb
41. celerity :speed, rapidity
15. airy: of air cavalier: casual and offhand,
arrogant
42.
16. alacrity: cheerful, promptness 43. cessation :stoppage
17. baleful :evil 44. cession: yielding to another, ceding
malicious misrepresentation
18. baneful: harmful 45. calumny:
46. camaraderie: good-fellowship
19. bauble: trinket
disappointment
20. beatitude: blessedness 47. chagrin :annoyance,
consecrated cup
21. begrudge :envy 48. chalice: goblet,
49. dainty: delicate
22 bellicose :warlike
50. dubious :questionable
23 bombastic :pompous
51. ductile :malleable
24 brawny :muscular 52. dulcet melodious
25. bungle: mismanage
26. bestial : beastlike
 Himalaya's Functional English Page | 76
53.decant: pour off gently (wine or liquid) 100. gouge :overcharge
54.decelerate :slow down 101. guile: deceit, duplicity, wiliness,
55.decapitate: behead 102. gull: trick, deceive, hoodwink cunnir
56.decadence: decay 103. gruesome: grisly, horrible
57 enamored: in love 104. guffaw: boisterous laughter
58. encipher: encode 105. hilarity: boisterous, mirth
59. encircle :surround 106. hilarious: full of laughter
60. encomiastic: praising, eulogistic 107. hackneyed :commonplace, trite
61. encomium: eulogy 108. haggard: gaunt
62 emaciated :thin and wasted 109. halting :hesitant, faltering
63. emanate: come out 1 10. hindrance :block, obstacle
64. empirical: experience-based 111. hideous: ugly, repugnant
65. emulate :imitate 112. kinetic :producing motion, of
66. eminent: distinguished 113. kismet :fate, destiny
motion
67. emissary: agent, messenger 114. palatable :agreeable
68. emollient :soothing 115. peevish: irritable
69. emolument :salary 116. pellucid :transparent
70. elucidate :explain 117. pacify: soothe
71. elusive: evasive
118. pall :become boring, grow tiresome
72. emancipate: liberate 119.
73.
perjury : false testimony
embody : include 120. pernicious: harmful
74 flail: move wildly 121. ravage :devastate
75. flair :talent 122. ravenous: voracious
76. fastidious: squeamish 123. raucous :unpleasant
77. fatal: deadly
124. ravine: gorge
78. fathom: comprehend 125. raze :destroy
79. fatuous: inane, silly 126. rancor: bitterness
80. feasible: practical 127. realm: kingdom
81. febrile: feverish 128. sardonic: disdainful, sarcastic
82. fecundity: fertility, fruitfulness 129. satiate: satisfy
83. factitious: artificial 130. satire: sarcasm
84
84. factotum :handyman 131. savant: scholar
85. flamboyant: ornate 132. savor: enjoy
86. flashy: showy, gaudy 133. saunter: stroll
87. forerunner: predecessor 134. savory: attractive,
88
88. forge: counterfeit agreeable
135. sabotage: destruction
89 forsake: abandon 136. ubiquitous: omnipresent
90. forgo: (forego) give up 137. unassuming :modest
91. forlorn: wretched, desolate 138. unbridled :violent, uncontrolled
92. formidable: menacing 139. uncanny: strange,
93. garner :gather
mysterious
140. unfledged :immature
94. gargantuan: enormous,gigantic 141. unguent: ointment
95. garish: bright- coloured 142. uniformity : sameness, monotony
96. grouse :complain 143. unkempt: disheveled
144. unmitigated :
97.
98.
genesis : origin
geniality :cheerfulness 145. unobtrusive
unrelieved/immoderate
:inconspicuous, not blatan
99 gossamer :sheer 146. vacuous: empty
 Himalaya's Funetional English Page | 77
147. vagabond :wanderer
148. vagrant: wanderer
161. venom: poison
162. verbose: wordy
149. valour: bravery
163. peripatetic: moving
150. valiant: brave
164. wastrel :waster,
151. vain : conceited 165. waylay: ambush
profligate
152. vainglorious: boastful
166. wispy :thin
153. verisimilitude: likelihood
167. wistful :sadly thoughtful
of being true
154. verity: quality 168. wither: decay
155. scads :a great quantity 169. wreak: inflict
156. vent: express
170. wretch: miserable
157. veracious : (of a person) truthfiul 171. woeful :sad
158. veracity: truthfulness
172. zany : comic, crazy
159. verbatim : word for word 173. zeal :eager, enthusiasm
160. venison :meat of a deer 174. zenith: summit, acme

2.5.2 EXERCISES

EXERCISE 1: Write the synonyms of the following list of words.

WORDS SYNONYMS WORDSS SYNONYMS

1. abortive 17. factual
2. abhorrent 18. fad
3. acrimonious 19. linger
4. accolade 20. lingo
5. affluent 21. lithe
6. apothecary 22. loathe
7. avarice 23. melancholy
8. brazen 24. perpetrator
9. bumptious
25.pharmacy
10. burlesque 26. strut
11. coterie 27. subdue

12. counterfeit 28.sublime

13. decrepitude 29. quiver

14. diminutive 30.ridiculous

15. expostulate 31. risqué

16. forge 32.wretch
 Himalaya's Functionar

to complete the sentenee

ces.
II: Cho0ose the
appropriate word or word phrase
EXERCISE

days of intense rain that caused

shelters after
Many people
are living in temporary
I Indonesia.
the provinces of
damage in
b) flexible c) sufficient d) substantial e) nutritious
a) intimate
inhabitants live in the
Nile valley and delta, and the rect .

of the
2. The vast majority of Egypt's
populated.
country iIs
c)exclusively d) considerately e)cagerly
a) sparsely b) remarkably
is to steal the entire safe and move it to
3 The most common method ofthieves nowadays a
location where they have the time and tools to the safe and remove its contents

b) cut down c) put out d) run into d) get over

a) take apart
The storm causing flooding and landslides in Miami prompted the government to
4.
hundreds from coastal towns.

a) evaporate b) evacuate c) encourage d) contribute e) demolish

5. Little is known of bats, since their small, delicate skeletons do not fossilize
about the.
well.

a) contribution b) evacuation c) evolution d) solution e) illusion

6.
. The HIV virus is complex and there are many unknowns about how it operates and
_

how people's bodies react to it.

a) extremely b) determinedly c) previously d) considerately e) eagerly

7. The jury reached a verdict of not guilty as there wasn't evidence to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt he intended to kill his boss.

a) loyal b) flexible c) obsolete d) sufficient e) abstract

8. The manager scolded the new
employee so fiercely that she in tears, leaving the room
in a hurry.

a) broke down b) cut down c) took over d) kept on e) got down

9. The young graduate has made a wonderful
speech and said he is extremely grateful
o
parents and loved ones who have always supported and him in his studies.
a) restricted b) fascinated c)encouraged d) demolished e) confessed
10. William Harvey's significant discoveries impacted science his
, the field of science would not be how immensely and witn but
we know it
today.
a) evolution b) disturbance c)reversal
d) contribution e)congratulatiou
 Himalaya's Functional English Page | 79
RCISE IlI: Choose the
appropriate word or word plhrase
E X E R

from the list given below to

complete the sentences.

dynamie elegant obstinate unfavorable dishonest

obedient
irresponsiblefearless tolerance impatient
1.
I don't expect him to change his mind because I know he is
very
If you want to shop for the latest fashions or expensive souvenirs in New York City, go to
2. Fifth Avenue. It is full of
shops.
Our teacher is a(n) person, s0 she easily captivates the interest and attention of the
3.
students while she is teaching.
A My father get angry with us whenever we make a mistake. He has no for mistakes.
5. Teachers like students who never break their rules.
We couldn't see the meteor shower last night because ofthe weather conditions.
6.
7. You should wait for your turn. You'd better not be so
8. Tom is so ;he never does his homework and never keeps to his promises.
Sravan is so_ that he sometimes puts his life at risk.
9 who lies and cheats.
10. Mrs. Smith always tells her daughter not to marry a(n) man,

the words in
EXERCISE IV: Pick out the word that has
most nearly the same in meaning as

capitals.
5. PRESENTIMENT
1. PETULANT
a. foretelling the future
a. inflexible b. offering bribes
b. diseased taking precautions
C.
C. without money d. working extra hours
d. irascible
6. DIGERATI
2. INGENUOUS
a. computer expert
a. openly b. gourmet club
b. dishonest C. political faction
C. clever, gullible d. open chorus
d. resourceful

7. FLATLINE

3. FINESSE a. deny
demolish
a. skill b.
C. die
. error

C. conclusion d. emigrate
d. dress 8. INCARCERATE

a. capture
4. EFFETE
b. sum up
a. affective
C. imprison
b. edgy d. harm
C. messy
d. affected