Synonyms and Antonyms: Definitions & Examples

Like any language, English expands and evolves. As a result, it now has over a million words that serve as building blocks of our thoughts and speech. Parts of this plethora of words are synonyms and antonyms. Synonyms are words that mean the same, while antonyms are those that have opposite meanings.

What are Synonyms?

Synonyms are words or phrases that share the same meanings. When words mean the same, that means they’re synonymous with each other. Because of this plethora of choices, we can navigate English and choose the best synonym that fits our style. For instance, the adjectives enormous, immense, gigantic, or humongous all mean alike, but their stylistic effects vary. The best reference work for finding synonyms is a thesaurus.

For example, here are some words and a few of their synonyms:

  • Adjectives
    • Fast: swift, quick, rapid
    • Small: tiny, little, pint-sized
    • Loud: noisy, clamorous, blaring
    • Happy: joyful, felicitous, glad
  • Nouns
    • Student: learner, pupil, scholar
    • Crowd: throng, populace, mass
    • Danger: harm, hazard, threat
    • Goal: dream, ambition, end
  • Verbs
    • Cry: weep, bawl, holler
    • Admit: agree, confess, concede
    • Laugh: guffaw, giggle, crack up
    • Build: construct, put up, make
  • Adverbs
    • Certainly: indeed, undoubtedly, truly
    • Always: permanently, invariably, ever
    • Bravely: courageously, sternly
    • Sometimes: occasionally, now and then

What are Antonyms?

Antonyms are words or phrases that are opposite in meaning. We pull the antonym of a word to establish contrast and difference. Like synonyms, antonyms come in all parts of speech. Consult a dictionary for a sea of opposite words.

Here are some examples of antonyms:

  • Adjectives
    • Quiet: noisy
    • Young: old
    • Healthy: sick
    • Dark: light
  • Nouns
    • Friend: enemy
    • Arrival: departure
    • Beginning: end
    • Denial: acceptance
  • Verbs
    • Reap: sow
    • Buy: sell
    • Destroy: build
    • Temporary: permanent
  • Adverbs
    • Slowly: hastily
    • Seldom: frequently
    • Anywhere: nowhere
    • Carefully: haphazardly

Identifying Synonyms and Antonyms

Pinpointing synonyms and antonyms head-on requires extensive vocabulary. But if you’re given a text from which to deduct them, one effective method is to look for context clues. In other words, that means reading the text carefully and using hints to understand the meaning of a particular word. This method comes in handy during Verbal Ability tests.  

For example, identify the synonym of the boldened word in this sentence:

The series of meetings enervated him, so he spent the whole weekend in bed.
Choices: drained, refreshed, confused


This sentence implies that he stayed in bed all weekend after a series of meetings, which must’ve been tiring. Thus, the suitable synonym of enervated is drained. When asked for the antonym of enervated, you can also quickly answer refreshed.

Look for the antonym of the boldened word in this sentence:

The poor employees resent their arrogant, self-serving boss. 
Choices: conceited, humble, pompous 

Here, you can tell the employees dislike their boss, and it’s obviously not for his/her good traits. Thus, the most accurate antonym of arrogant is humble. On the other hand, conceited and pompous would both be synonyms to the word arrogant.

Read and Explore Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms and antonyms make up our daily conversations. That’s why consistently feeding our vocabulary through reading and writing makes us better communicators. So, invest in your mind and build an arsenal of antonyms and synonyms for future use – after all, learning never stops.

Thank you for reading. We hope it’s effective! Always feel free to revisit this page if you ever have any questions about synonyms and antonyms.

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If you enjoyed learning about synonyms and antonyms, you may be interested in our English Language Composition 2021 AP Exam Study Guide.
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If you enjoyed learning about synonyms and antonyms, you may be interested in our English Literature & Composition 2021 AP Exam Study Guide.
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