Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonym

A synonym is a word that means exactly the same as, or very nearly the same as, another word in the same language. For example, "close" is a synonym of "shut".

Note that a synonym may share an identical meaning with another word, but the two words are not necessarily interchangeable. For example, "blow up" and "explode" have the same meaning, but "blow up" is informal (used more in speech) and "explode" is more formal (used more in writing and careful speech).

Here are some more examples of synonyms:

synonyms part of speech
close shut   verb
blow up explode   verb
blow up inflate   verb
shallow superficial   adjective
eager earnest keen adjective
spontaneous impromptu unplanned adjective

You can find synonyms in a synonym dictionary or thesaurus.

Antonym

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. For example "bad" is an antonym of "good". Here are some more examples:

prefix antonyms part of speech
  good bad adjective
small big adjective
easy hard
difficult
adjective
soft hard adjective
male female adjective
noun
up down preposition
adverb
go come verb
made by adding prefix un- able unable adjective
selfish unselfish adjective
do undo verb
made by adding prefix in- decent indecent adjective
tolerant intolerant adjective
human inhuman adjective
made by adding prefix non- conformist nonconformist adjective
noun
essential nonessential adjective
noun
sense nonsense noun

You can find antonyms in an antonym dictionary.