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.