Synonyms for commonly used words

This list of words (and synonyms) has been arranged in alphabetical order. For the selection of the words, the top 50 lists of the most "common words in English" (provided by the makers of the Oxford English Dictionary) were a preferred inspiration - mostly verbs and adjectives, only rarely nouns and adverbs.

answer - respond, reply, retort, rejoinder, acknowledge, talk / write back, sass, riposte

amazing - splendid, fantastic, fabulous, wonderful, extraordinary, astonishing, astounding, phenomenal, breathtaking, overwhelming, marvelous, remarkable, spectacular,
startling, staggering, improbable, incredible, un-believable / -foreseen, / -thinkable, / -imaginable / -anticipated / -expected / -predicted

ask - question, inquire, demand, request, query, interrogate, examine, quiz,
propose to, suggest to / beg, beseech, entreat, pray, plead (pled), petition

begin - launch, start, open, initiate, activate, inaugurate, originate, commence, get underway, set in motion, embark on, kick off

big - enormous, stupendous, gargantuan, huge, large, immense, gigantic, vast, great, colossal, sizable, grand, great, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, tremendous, titanic, mountainous

certain - sure, positive, confident, safe bet, determined, definite, clear, distinct, obvious, inescapable, inevitable, unavoidable

certainly - absolutely, assuredly, undoubtedly, definitely, by all means; of course, right on, surely, without fail

complete - closed, ended, finished, concluded, terminated, done, accomplished, fulfilled,
whole, comprehensive, total, unabridged, uncut, wide / far-ranging, broad, ample, widespread, thorough, all-embracing, all-inclusive, overall, extensive, full,

decide - determine, settle, conclude, resolve, decree, rule
make your mind up, settle on, agree, adopt, elect, go for, select, plump, pick, take, opt

describe - narrate, recite, characterize, represent, recount, rehearse, relate, report, record, laid out

difference - dissimilarity, unlikeness, incompatibility, divergence, variation, disagreement, inequity, contrast, distinction, discrepancy

do - perform, execute, accomplish, achieve, enact, carry out, attain, effect, fulfill, discharge

end - stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, cease, desist, discontinue, halt, quit

exact - accurate, definite, correct, precise, strict, spot-on, literal,
appropriate, suitable, acceptable, proper, approved, accepted, standard, thorough
careful, meticulous, particular, rigorous, faithful, true, truthful, just, right, specific

explain - elucidate, expound, explicate, elaborate, clarify, illustrate, by comparison, justify, account for, interpret, construe

feel - sense, experience, perceive / touch, taste, contact, palpate, caress
- calculate, conjecture, fancy, guess, hypothesize, imagine, infer, intuit, presume, presuppose, reason, reckon, speculate, surmise, suspect, theorize, think

get - acquire, obtain, secure, gain, regain, procure, derive, fetch, accumulate, collect, gather

great - noteworthy, distinguished, marvelous, excellent, fine, superior, qualified, suited, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, mighty
sublime, preponderant, supreme, predominant, paramount, preeminent, noted, celebrated, famed, famous, illustrious, notable, renowned

idea - thought, notion, understanding, opinion, concept, conception, plan, view, belief

important - indispensable, vital, critical, essential, necessary, needful, requisite, valuable, significant, primary, principal, considerable

interesting - absorbing, appealing, animated, attractive, bright, challenging, curious, captivating, engaging, exciting, enchanting, entertaining, fascinating, intelligent, spirited, inviting, intriguing, involving, inspiring, keen, provocative, though-provoking, moving, tantalizing, piquant, lively, spicy, sharp, consuming, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding

keep - retain, withhold, reserve, preserve, maintain, sustain, support, hold

little - small, diminutive, little, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, slight, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, minuscule, minute, petite, tiny, wee

look - behold, see, glance, glimpse, sight, watch, note, notice, espy, descry, view, perceive, discern, remarked
gaze, stare, gape, glare, peer, peek, peep, ogle
seek, search for, examine, scrutinize, inspect, discover, recognize, eye, gawk, peruse, explore, study, observe, witness, contemplate, survey

make - found, create, establish, institute, organize, originate, invent, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, compose

really - absolutely, actually, admittedly, as a matter of fact, assuredly, authentically, beyond doubt, categorically, certainly, de facto, easily, for real, genuinely, honestly, indeed, indubitably, in effect, in fact, legitimately, literally, no ifs ands or buts, nothing else but, of course, positively, precisely, surely, truly, undoubtedly, unmistakably, unquestionably, verily, well

say - allege, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, profess / articulate, enounce, enunciate, mouth, pronounce, speak, sound, utter, vocalize, verbalize, voice

tell - chronicle, communicate, characterize, delineate, describe, divulge, enumerate, impart, narrate, present, quote, recap, recapitulate, recite, relate, report, retell, reveal, review, spin
- acquaint, advise, apprise, clue, edify, familiarize, forewarn, inform, fill in, notify, post, tip off, warn, wise up

walk - promenade, pace, tiptoe, amble, saunter, toddle, stride, hike, jaunt, lope, march, gait, proceed, go forward, strike for home, head somewhere, tour, trek,
wander, ramble, roam, rove, range, meander, stray, perambulate, stroll, gallivant, gad

Words (Synonyms) for different emotions / feelings / moods / sensations

While browsing through this list at one full swoop you will pick up many words with the same or a related meaning. The list in the middle as a more positive meaning, whilst the 2 lateral lists have a more negative meaning.

 

sad

desolate

somber

doleful

gloomy

pathetic

mournful

dismal

lugubrious

dreary

bleak

grim

melancholic

 

angry

incensed

furious

outraged

wrathful

livid

cross

enraged

 

happy

confident

satisfied

content

calm

convinced

ecstatic

excessive

glorious

splendid

hilarious

overwhelmed

love struck

sybaritic

lunatic

zestful

wry

dazed

fain

whimsical

sanguine

jubilant

cheerful

joyful

fanciful

hopeful

delightful

epicurean

voluptuous

sensuous

humorous

capricious

enchanted

cautious

confused

anxious

exhausted

jealous

hysterical

lonely

guilty

shy

suspicious

wistful

(self-) assertive

doubtful

depressed

ashamed

bored

dull

obtuse

annoyed

disgusted

frightened

scared

startled

alarmed

terrified

frustrated

concerned

troubled

perturbed

disturbed

presumptuous

 

Synonyms - Praise

Searching for a word or expression similar to "I like it very much". Have a look:

 

Remarkably excellent

Absolutely gorgeous

A wonderful ...

Impressive

Beyond our wildest dreams

Audacious

Inspired admiration and respect

 

Finest quality

I really like it

Absolutely stunning

Strikingly attractive

Extraordinary

A very nice ...

Smart

Amusingly clever

A precious gem

Very good

Beauty

Lovely

Incredible

Awesome

Terrific

Splendid

Brilliant

 

To do - accomplishment, achievement, performance, ability, opinion
explanation, presentation, impression, composition, interpretation, material, prospect, solution

English Synonyms - Words to use instead

Language rescources, for teachers, writers and students of English alike: a list of some commonly used words and their useful synonyms (see also a Transition Words) to increase your vocabulary:

Definition: a synonym is a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or a phrase. Antonyms are words which have the opposite (or nearly opposite) meaning. For example: slow and fast.
A thesaurus is a resource similar to a dictionary that helps writers to search synonyms - as a device to compose a verbose and scintillating text. This list provides some examples of commonly employed synonyms.

Utilizing synonyms is an elegant method to to make a text more pleasant to read. If the same word is used very often in several sentences, it might very well be the case, that this same word should describe something different in each of the sentences. Since synonyms are usually nuanced variations with slightly different meanings, their use will emphasize special characteristics, and thus the text will be more precise.

Students are more likely to use a word in writing and speaking if they have some context when they learn it. Thus, an important aspect of vocabulary buildup is teaching words in related groups. A Students vocabulary is augmented and the writing is enriched when students are encouraged to utilize a variety of synonyms so that readers can "see, taste, and feel" what they write.

Lists: Synonym, Dictonary, Etymology and Thesaurus Resources (Links)

It is extremely difficult to find some language related sites in the "world wide web", which are not plastered with anoying ads. The sites listed below are not 100% advertisement free, but use it (if at all) very discreetly - so far (March 2009).

Synomizer » Synonmys in 5 Languages

Synomix » English Synonmys and a large thesaurus database

Homonyms » a few hundred - on 1 page
A list of words, that are pronounced the same, but are spelled differently, and that have different meanings. Example sentences are provided for each homonym.
The intriguing part about homonyms is that they are the raw material for puns, a truly sublime form of humor.


WordSmyth » Educational resources » Vocabulary, Dictionary, Synonyms, etc.

Etymology » Online Dictionary » The Online Etymology Dictionary is a dictionary that describes the origins of English language words.

WordWeb » Dictionary and word finder » States on the first page "no annoying adverts". There You GO!!!

ARTFL » University of Chicago » Webster's Dictionary + Roget's Thesaurus + French - English Dictionary + French Conjugator. They use historical editions - but don't be fooled: language is not developing as fast as the internet, older editions are still useful.

OneLook » Reverse Dictionary » The description can be a few words, a sentence, a question, or even just a single word - the Reverse Dictionary will find the word you need (try "expression for emotion").

 

Now the pages with superfluous and distracting ads, but still more in middle range of what is considered normal in this industry. Not that I consider advertisement as a total evil - but there is a limit ... (and a plethora of adverts certainly affects the loading time of the page).

The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language (AHD) » also with Synonyms, Etymolgy, Word Usage, ... » concerning the content: simply the best (there is also a CD-ROM availabe through the usual channels).

Cambridge » Advanced Learner's Dictionary » Also with phrasal words, idioms, etc.

AskOxford » Oxford Dictionaries » of English, Quatations, Experts, First Names, etc.

Dictionary » LEO (Link Everything Online) » Comprehensive German < > English (French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese) online dictionary.

http://thesaurus.reference.com » Thesaurus » A service of ask.com and a dictionary is only one click away.

http://www.merriam-webster.com » Synonyms » and also a Dictonary.