Synonyms

INTRODUCTION

When two words or phrases have similar synonym meanings in the same language, they are known as synonyms. If you think about it, the English words “start,” “commence,” “initiate,” and “start” all mean the same thing. If one form may be substituted for another without altering its meaning, it is a synonym. With identical meaning, synonyms share a denotational or connotational semantic field, while synonyms with a broader semantic field share an inexact semantic field and overlap in a semantic field. Synonyms are very useful for our day-to-day conversation, and it enhances our vocabulary also.

Lexicography

Because of their distinct origins, spelling, phonic features, connotations, ambiguous meanings, usage, some lexicographers believe that no two synonyms have the same meaning (in any context or social level of language). Feline is more formal than cat. Different terms that have similar meanings usually differ for a reason: (for example, a long arm is not the same as an extended arm). Euphemisms can also be derived from synonyms.

Use of synonyms

Synonyms are crucial because they can give your readers a clear and distinct view of your material, which can help you improve the quality of your writing. You’ll be able to better express yourself verbally and in writing as a result of taking this course. Incorporating synonyms into your writing has the following advantages: It enhances the readability of your work. Avoid dreary writing by removing unnecessary details. Improve your ability to communicate with people. The following are some of the advantages of employing synonyms:

• Improve the readability of your work
• Avoid dreary writing by removing unnecessary details
• Improve your ability to communicate with people
• Aid the reader’s imagination by painting a mental picture for them
• Help to avoid boring and repetitive text

Avoiding Plagiarism using Paraphrasing with Synonyms

Using someone else’s work without permission is a violation of copyright law. As a researcher, plagiarising someone else’s work in a research document might have a negative impact on your professional reputation. You should cite and reference any works that you use in your writings that are not your original thoughts or ideas.

To avoid the temptation of utilizing too many quotations, we can shorten a long quote by rephrasing it to say the same thing with fewer words. Synonyms come in handy in this situation, but you must exercise caution when choosing which ones to employ.

Recommended Tools/Websites for finding Synonyms

Synonyms can be found in a variety of publications and online resources. After downloading from an internet source, Roget’s Thesaurus is among the most frequently used publications on the market. The following are some of the best resources for finding synonyms:

• The Visual Thesaurus is an interactive dictionary that generates “word maps” of similar terms when you enter in a word for which you desire a synonym. As a bonus, definitions are included

• Synonyms and other related words are also provided by Thesaurus.com, which categorizes words based on their complexity and length, as well as whether they are used in formal or informal situations. To help you improve your vocabulary, the website offers a “word of the day” each day
• In addition to antonyms, definitions, and a translation of the word into numerous additional languages, the website Synonym.net offers a wide range of related terms
• Translating a term into another language is also provided by Reverso Dictionary

Sources of synonyms

It is common for synonyms to be drawn from the many levels of a language’s structure. In English, for example, Norman French superstratum terms and Old English substratum words coexist. Freedom and archer are now synonyms for both the Normans and the Saxons, who are descended from the same people. See the list of English translations of Germanic and Latinate words for further examples.

Another rich source of synonyms is loanwords, which are generally taken from the language of the region’s dominant culture. While Latin and ancient Greek concepts have been employed extensively in European languages, the original words are still used in non-technical settings. Borrowings from Chinese in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese often double local terms throughout East Asia. The languages of the Islamic world, Arabic and Persian, serve as important repositories for borrowed words.

Conclusion

To conclude, we can say that synonyms play an important role in developing the vocabulary of students. It is needed in the English section of IBPS & SBI exams. As a general rule, synonyms are drawn from the many levels of a language. Candidates preparing for these exams can practice this part to score high. We should just read each of the provided sentences and try to understand the underlying concept. You should pay special attention to relative clauses when putting the phrases in the correct order. These phrases frequently begin with the words ‘but,’ ‘if,’ ‘whether,’ ‘however,’ moreover,’ and so on, and are quite useful in determining the correct use of synonyms.