Synonyms and Nuances Practice
Synonyms are words that have the same basic meaning. Nuance refers to the subtle shade of meaning between two words. For example, tiny means “extremely small.” Microscopic also means extremely small, but microscopic conveys a sense of something being so small that it can’t be seen without special instruments.
A.DIRECTIONS: Write a synonym for each word below on the top line. Then, describe the difference in nuance between the two words.
1. pretty- ________________________
Difference= type here
2. smart _________________________
Difference= type here
3. warm _________________________
Difference= type here
4. harmful _________________________
Difference= type here
B. DIRECTIONS: For each pair of words below, write the difference in nuance between them.
1. sad / miserable
Difference= type here
2. willing / eager
Difference= type here
3. bad / evil
Difference= type here
C .DIRECTIONS: Highlight the word that has the most precise meaning to complete each sentence.
1. I was (surprised/horrified) when I made that careless mistake.
2. The movie was (thrilling/fun); I could hardly sit still.
3. That disease can be (deadly/painful); the death rate is very high.
4. Jan was (pleased/delighted) to see us.
5. Tyrone’s prank was (vicious/mean) and everyone was mad at him.
D .DIRECTIONS: For each pair of words below, write the difference in nuance between them.
annoyed / enraged
liked / admired
3. loud / thunderous
4. curving / twisting
A. DIRECTIONS: Write a synonym for each word below on the top line. Then, describe the difference in nuance between the two words.
1. pretty- beautiful
Difference: While both words convey attractiveness, "pretty" typically refers to someone or something that is pleasing to look at in a delicate or charming way, whereas "beautiful" refers to something that is pleasing to look at in a more general and impactful way.
2. smart - intelligent
Difference: Both words refer to having a high level of mental capability, but "smart" typically conveys a sense of practical and quick thinking, while "intelligent" refers to a broader capacity for understanding, learning, and problem-solving.
3. warm - hot
Difference: Both words refer to a high temperature, but "warm" conveys a pleasant and comfortable level of heat, while "hot" typically suggests a higher and potentially uncomfortable or intense level of temperature.
4. harmful - dangerous
Difference: Both words refer to something that can cause harm or injury, but "harmful" suggests a more general capacity to cause harm, while "dangerous" often implies a higher level of risk or potential harm, usually associated with threats to safety or life.
B. DIRECTIONS: For each pair of words below, write the difference in nuance between them.
1. sad / miserable
Difference: While both words indicate a low or unhappy emotional state, "miserable" conveys a stronger and more intense feeling of sadness, often suggesting a state of extreme unhappiness or despair.
2. willing / eager
Difference: Both words indicate a positive attitude towards doing something, but "eager" suggests a higher level of enthusiasm and excitement compared to "willing." "Eager" implies a strong desire and anticipation to carry out a task or engage in an activity.
3. bad / evil
Difference: Both words refer to something negative, but "bad" often describes something that is morally wrong or of low quality, while "evil" suggests something morally wrong to an extreme and malicious degree, often associated with intent to cause harm.
C. DIRECTIONS: Highlight the word that has the most precise meaning to complete each sentence.
1. I was horrified when I made that careless mistake.
2. The movie was thrilling; I could hardly sit still.
3. That disease can be deadly; the death rate is very high.
4. Jan was delighted to see us.
5. Tyrone’s prank was vicious and everyone was mad at him.
D. DIRECTIONS: For each pair of words below, write the difference in nuance between them.
1. annoyed / enraged
Difference: While both words indicate a strong negative emotional state, "enraged" suggests a higher level of anger and intensity compared to "annoyed." "Enraged" often suggests a loss of control and potential violent tendencies, while "annoyed" suggests a milder and less intense form of irritation.
2. liked / admired
Difference: Both words indicate positive feelings towards someone or something, but "admired" suggests a higher level of respect and appreciation compared to "liked." "Admired" often implies that the person or thing is seen as admirable or having exceptional qualities.
3. loud / thunderous
Difference: Both words indicate a high level of sound, but "thunderous" conveys a more intense and powerful sound compared to "loud." "Thunderous" suggests a sound that is deep, booming, and possibly associated with a strong force, while "loud" simply indicates a high volume.
4. curving / twisting
Difference: Both words describe a bending or turning motion, but "curving" suggests a smooth and gentle bend or turn, often associated with a gradual change in direction, while "twisting" conveys a sharper and more abrupt change in direction or a spiral-like motion.
simplify
1. pretty - beautiful (Difference: "pretty" is more delicate, while "beautiful" is more general and impactful)
2. smart - intelligent (Difference: "smart" is more practical and quick, while "intelligent" is broader and encompasses learning and problem-solving)
3. warm - hot (Difference: "warm" is pleasant and comfortable, while "hot" is higher and potentially intense)
4. harmful - dangerous (Difference: "harmful" is more general, while "dangerous" implies a higher level of risk)
1. sad / miserable (Difference: "miserable" is more intense and suggests extreme unhappiness or despair)
2. willing / eager (Difference: "eager" conveys higher enthusiasm and excitement compared to "willing")
3. bad / evil (Difference: "evil" suggests extreme and malicious moral wrongness)
1. horrified (most precise)
2. thrilling (most precise)
3. deadly (most precise)
4. delighted (most precise)
5. vicious (most precise)
1. annoyed / enraged (Difference: "enraged" is more intense and suggests loss of control and potential violence)
2. admired (most precise)
3. thunderous (most precise)
4. twisting (most precise)
word it different
A. DIRECTIONS: Write a synonym for each word below on the top line. Then, describe the difference in nuance between the two words.
1. pretty - beautiful
Difference: While both words mean attractive, "pretty" conveys a more delicate or charming attractiveness, while "beautiful" suggests a broader and more impactful attractiveness.
2. smart - intelligent
Difference: Although both words refer to being clever or knowledgeable, "smart" implies practical thinking and quick wit, while "intelligent" encompasses a broader capacity for understanding and problem-solving.
3. warm - hot
Difference: Both words pertain to high temperature, but "warm" suggests a pleasurably comfortable or cozy heat, while "hot" indicates a higher and potentially uncomfortable level of temperature.
4. harmful - dangerous
Difference: Both words describe potential harm or risk, but "harmful" implies a general capacity to cause harm, while "dangerous" suggests a higher level of risk or potential harm, often associated with threats to safety or life.
B. DIRECTIONS: For each pair of words below, write the difference in nuance between them.
1. sad / miserable
Difference: While both words indicate a low emotional state, "miserable" conveys a more intense level of sadness, often associated with extreme unhappiness or despair.
2. willing / eager
Difference: Both words indicate a positive attitude, but "eager" suggests a higher level of enthusiasm and excitement compared to "willing." "Eager" implies a strong desire and anticipation to do something.
3. bad / evil
Difference: Both words convey negativity, but "bad" generally describes something of low quality or morally wrong, while "evil" suggests a more intense and malicious level of moral wrongness, often involving harm.
C. DIRECTIONS: Highlight the word that has the most precise meaning to complete each sentence.
1. I was horrified when I made that careless mistake.
2. The movie was thrilling; I could hardly sit still.
3. That disease can be deadly; the death rate is very high.
4. Jan was delighted to see us.
5. Tyrone’s prank was vicious and everyone was mad at him.
D. DIRECTIONS: For each pair of words below, write the difference in nuance between them.
1. annoyed / enraged
Difference: While both words express negative emotions, "enraged" suggests a more intense and uncontrollable anger compared to "annoyed." "Enraged" often implies a potential for violence, while "annoyed" indicates a milder irritation.
2. liked / admired
Difference: Both words indicate positive feelings, but "admired" suggests a higher level of respect and appreciation compared to "liked." "Admired" conveys a sense of admiration for exceptional qualities or achievements.
3. loud / thunderous
Difference: Both words describe a high volume, but "thunderous" suggests a more intense and powerful sound compared to "loud." "Thunderous" implies a deep, booming sound, often associated with force, while "loud" simply indicates a high volume.
4. curving / twisting
Difference: Both words describe a bending or turning motion, but "curving" suggests a smooth and gentle curve, often associated with a gradual change in direction, while "twisting" implies a sharper and more abrupt change in direction, possibly with a spiral-like motion.