synonym

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'synonym' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to two or more words that have the same meaning. For example: The words 'happy' and 'glad' are synonyms.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There, the boundary between war and peace is blurred; "frozen conflicts" is a synonym for wars without end.

The Guardian

The word sounds so inoffensive, a synonym for "brush" or "caress".

The Guardian

Look at poll findings and see why: any talk of increased spending means ballot box disaster; the word "borrowing" has become a synonym for "suicide".

The Guardian

Yet increasingly leadership has become a synonym for merely being good at your job.

The Economist

If "libertarian paternalism" is stipulated to be a programme of "choice-preserving decision architecture", to use Messrs Sunstein and Thaler's barbaric jargon, then "libertarian paternalism" is nothing but a profoundly confusing, completely superfluous synonym for anti-paternalism.

The Economist

OVER the past year or two the name Barbara Cartland has been mentioned by writers in The Economist at least six times, usually as a synonym for romanticism of one sort or another.

The Economist

Their gratitude would sweep the Democratic incumbent to victory.The grousing turned to malicious laughter as "Governor Blanco's Road Home Programme" became a synonym for official ineptitude.

The Economist

For the anti-globalisation crew, however, the phrase morphed into something else: a synonym for a "selfish, obscene and biased view of the economy" (to quote one of the more printable insults).Now Mr Williamson is at it again.

The Economist

It's simply a synonym for "education establishment"—the myriad adult interest groups and institutional forces that generally control American public education and live off it.

The Economist

Poujadiste later became a synonym for provincialist demagoguery.

The Economist

The word "French", which during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was sometimes employed in America as an abusive synonym for "spineless", is now more likely to be used to mean "socialist".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use a thesaurus to find synonyms to avoid repetition and make your writing more engaging. Be sure to consider the context and connotations of each synonym to ensure it accurately reflects your intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is using a synonym without understanding its specific connotations. Always check the nuances of a word before substituting it for another to avoid misrepresenting your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The word "synonym" functions primarily as a noun. It refers to a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "synonym" is a common and grammatically correct noun used to describe words or phrases with similar meanings. Ludwig provides numerous examples from authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian, showcasing its prevalence in News & Media and Science contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions to identify and describe semantic relationships between words. To enhance writing, use synonyms to avoid repetition while understanding potential connotation differences. Common errors involve neglecting these nuances. Related phrases include "equivalent term" and "interchangeable word".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equivalent term

Focuses on the equivalence in meaning between terms.

interchangeable word

Highlights the ability to use the words in place of each other.

corresponding expression

Emphasizes the match in expression or phrase.

alternative wording

Focuses on using different words to convey the same meaning.

parallel term

Suggests that the terms run alongside each other in meaning.

duplicate word

Highlights that the words have the same meaning.

similar word

Points out the similarity in meaning but does not confirm identical meaning.

related term

The terms are connected.

another way to say

Suggests using another expression.

restatement

Restates in other words the same meaning.

FAQs

How to use "synonym" in a sentence?

You can use "synonym" to indicate that two words have the same or a very similar meaning. For example, "'Happy' is a "synonym" of 'glad'".

What can I say instead of "synonym"?

You can use alternatives like "equivalent term", "interchangeable word", or "alternative wording" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "synonym" or "antonym"?

"Synonym" refers to words with similar meanings, while "antonym" refers to words with opposite meanings. The correct word depends on the relationship between the words you are describing.

What's the difference between "synonym" and "paraphrase"?

A "synonym" is a word that has the same meaning as another word. A "paraphrase" is a restatement of a text or passage using different words, often to simplify or clarify the original meaning.