I. What is an Synonym?
An synonymous (sin–uh-nim) refers to a term that is the same or has nearly the identical meaning to an alternative word. If words or phrases share the similar meaning, we call them that they are a synonym of one another. The term “synonym” comes from a mix of Ancient Greek syn, meaning with, and onoma which means “name.” The term synonym is common and integral parts of our everyday language that can be used without thought. They can be found in every part of speech, including nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs, etc. Furthermore they are so crucial that they have an entire reference book dedicated to them. It’s called thesaurus. It’s a dictionary that contains synonyms!
II. Examples of Synonyms
These are some of the synonyms to phrases you are likely to use on a daily basis:
Poor: terrible, awful horrid, terrible
Good: fine, excellent, great
Hot: fiery, burning and boiling
Cold: cold frozen, frosty
Simple: Simple, easy and simple
Difficult: hard, demanding and tough
Big: huge, large gigantic
Small: tiny, little, mini
Then, go through the following three sentences:
The little one was taking a cold ice-cream cone, which caused him a headache.
The kid was eating a frozen cone of ice cream that gave him an unsettling headache.
The kid was eating an icy cone of ice cream. It caused him to have a horrible headache.
As you can notice that the three sentences in the above are similar to each other however, Sentences 2 and 3 paint an even more vivid picture since they make use of synonyms for certain of the words that are dull found in Sentence 1. Words such as “rapidly,” “gobbling,” “awful,” and “terrible” are better descriptive words than “quickly,” “eating,” and “bad”–they have the similar meanings to Sentence 1, but stronger meanings.
III. Types of Synonyms
Synonyms are a part of speech. Here are a few examples of:
Verbs
Instruct, teach, or educate
Look, search, and seek for
Nouns
Teacher, instructor, educator
Assessment, test, or test
Adjective
Smart, intelligent, clever
Slow, dumb, and stupid.
Adverb
Really, truly, extraordinarily
Still, silently, and without sound
IV. The importance of Synonyms
Because word selection is the most important thing in the language (probably the most important part! ) The importance of synonyms is awe-inspiring. Synonyms help make language more fascinating and meaningful. They also make language more pertinent. They play a significant importance in the choice of words used in both poetry and prose. In reality, one could say that poetry wouldn’t exist without synonyms. One of the primary reasons we employ for is that they can be interesting, artistic and expressive. poetry relies on these three aspects. Imagine how writing or reading could be like, if there was just one word to describe everything! The language would be dull, and there would be no room for innovation.
The way that words are selected and utilized is what often determines the quality of a literary work So, synonyms permit authors to develop their own distinct styles and voices in the creation of their work. Another reason why we employ synonyms is that they often have the same meanings, yet have different meanings (a words implied meaning). For instance, you could say “the soup’s smell was present in the air” making it sound delicious, however “the soup’s smell was present in the air” can sound like a scream. Thus, an author selects the word according to its positive, negative or neutral meaning. This assists writers in defining what they mean and what they mean by it.
V. Synonyms and Examples in Literature
Example 1
As we’ve said, poetry would not have a place without synonyms. The poetry “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” William Wordsworth describes a stroll in the afternoon which was especially special for the poet. In the following selection, he makes use of synonyms to help readers visualize the scene was his:
I wandered alone in clouds hung over me.
It floats over high hills and vales
Then I saw a large crowd
A host, of golden daffodils;
The lake is right beside it, and beneath the trees
Dance and swirling on the air.
In this instance, Wordsworth uses the synonyms “crowd” and “host” to convey the fact that he saw a significant number of daffodils. It enhanced their beauty. This is a method he’s employing to highlight the magnificence that he experienced. Utilizing two words that share the similar meaning, he’s in a position to create a greater picture using his words.
Example 2.
Synonyms are crucial in descriptive, creative writing since authors select specific words that fit their tone and style. The poem “The Eagle”” Lord Tennyson employs synonyms for everyday phrases to make this rich visual:
He holds the crag in his hands that are crooked;
In isolated lands
Ring’d with the blue world and he is.
The sea that is wrinkled under him crawls
He gazes through his walls of mountain.
He is like a thunderbolt and is thrown down.
Tennyson’s descriptive words create an image of the viewer. However, if you eliminate the synonyms he employs the poem would appear less beautiful. For instance, he makes use of “azure” rather than “blue” to give you a more accurate picture of the hue of the sky. Then there’s “crag” is more rough in comparison to “cliff.” A synonym can can also help to make the poem more evocative In this case the poem uses “lonely” in place of “isolated”–both words have identical meanings, however “lonely” generally refers to feelings of a person, while “isolated” generally refers to the location. As you can observe, Tennyson carefully chose his words with a purpose.
VI. Examples of Synonyms used in Pop Culture
Example 1
One of the most popular methods used in advertising the present day is to suggest that the brand’s product is akin to that product. For instance, we can claim that bleach’s name is synonymous to Clorox Coca-Cola is synonymous with Coca-Cola and Scotch tape is associated to adhesive tape. Foster’s Beer uses this type of advertisement in their campaign known as “How to Speak Australia,” like in the following commercial
Fosters: How do I Speak Australian | Wireless
Foster’s principal slogan includes “Foster’s: Australian for Beer.” Foster’s is “teaching” their audience they are teaching that in Australian the language “Foster’s” along with “beer” are the same words. The joke lies in the fact that “Australian” is actually English and already has a word to describe beer. Therefore, the Foster’s marketing strategy is to inform the viewers in Australia there are two words “beer” or “Foster’s” are both synonyms that are interchangeable.
VII. Related Terms
Antonym
An antonym is a term or phrase’s meaning that is different from the original as opposed to an synonym.
VIII. Conclusion
In the end they are an essential element of English languages that you can not do without, whether in writing or in our speech. Synonyms are the most effective kind of descriptive tool available that makes them a crucial component of poetry and prose alike. Synonyms allow for freedom of word choice , and enable authors to select words that have the appropriate meaning to suit their style and fulfill their goal.