Synonyms for the 96 most commonly used words in English

Amazing incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary

Anger enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden

Angry mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed

 

Answer reply, respond, retort, acknowledge

Ask– — question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz

Awful dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant

Bad evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable

Beautiful — pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling

Begin — start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate

Big — enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous

Brave — courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome

Break fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize

Bright — shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual

Calm — quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Come — approach, advance, near, arrive, reach

Cool chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid

Crooked — bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag

Cry — shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl

Cut — gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce

Dangerous perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe

Dark shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad

Decide — determine, settle, choose, resolve

Definite — certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious

Delicious — savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite

Describe — portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record

Destroy — ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish

Difference — disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility

Do — execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain

Dull — boring, tiring„ tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary

Eager — keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to

End — stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance

Enjoy — appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like

Explain — elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for

Fair — just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest

Fall — drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False — fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious

Famous — well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious

Fast — quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat — stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear — fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Fly — soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise

Funny — humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly

Get acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage

Go — recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good — excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying

Great — noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty

Gross — improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low

Happy — pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate — despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Have — hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy

Help — aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet

Hide — conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil

Hurry — rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle

Hurt — damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain

Idea — thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief

Important — necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting — fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing

Keep — hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Kill slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Lazy — indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish

Little — tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Look — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love — like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Make — create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get

Mark — label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate

Mischievous — prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive

Move — plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge

Moody — temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat — clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

New — fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent

Old — feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passe, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct

Part — portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment

Place — space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state

Plan — plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint

Popular — well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current

Predicament — quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put — place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet — silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Right — correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair

Run — race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee

Say/Tell — inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show — display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose

Slow — unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

Stop — cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit

Story — tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir

Strange — odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular

Take — hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell — disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think — judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble — distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort

True — accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly — hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy — miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Use — employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise

Wrong — incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

 

SOURCE
Image courtesy: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/

Read on:

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111 responses to “Synonyms for the 96 most commonly used words in English”

  1. daphodill says :

    Reblogged this on Daphodill's Garden and commented:
    This list will come in handy during revisions.

  2. marti says :

    Reblogged this on Switzerland.

  3. Catherine Broughton (@catherine_books) says :

    Yesterday somebody asked me why I don’t write in French (I am a novelist) and I replied that the English language is so rich with vocabulary, with turn-of-phrase, with innuendo and with expressions that it would be ridiculous to write in any other language. Mark you, try telling that to a Frenchman!

  4. Will says :

    Why 96? Why not 97 or say, 100?

  5. Adriaan says :

    I get the feeling that you used the synonym option on Microsoft word for this list, aloof is synomous with disinterested not with calm.

  6. Ryan Thomous says :

    This is great list of synonyms. Thank you for sharing informative information.

  7. Bakeca Incontri Roma says :

    Great list! Thank you!

  8. CCKoepp says :

    Handy list, but a suggestion for writers: do be careful about making your manuscript sound like a walking thesaurus ad.

  9. Barbara Estes says :

    I love Stumble Upon,but unfortunately, I can’t seem to e-mail as it says “no matches found.”Please help.Thanks

  10. K Pratap Kumar says :

    Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Virgil Contos says :

    This is a pretty thorough list of synonyms. The word “sportive” sounds more athletic for obvious reasons. It’s an unusual word. At any rate, thanks for taking the time to put this together.

  12. Norma Jean Boyd says :

    Link sent to me by a friend and I love it. Thank you so much.

  13. Manpreet Kaur says :

    Such a list is certainly required by a person who is into writing. I am a content writer and also working on my own book and I constantly feel the need of having such a list so that I can quickly access common words’ synonyms. It is great to see that you just compiled this for me.
    Though all the people who blog know that all spammers say that in their comments “I am going to bookmark your blog” but I am really going to do that. It is necessary. Thanks for the great write-up. It is great because you have put in so much of effort and trust me! you have fetched blessings from a lot of people like me. 🙂

    • Abrar Ahmed Khawaja says :

      Very agreeable status. It is definitely helpful for those who are into writing. Good to know that you are working on your own book. What a creative person you are!

    • Ravishing Khan says :

      no problem honey

  14. Brittany Bergman says :

    I adore this! I’m printing it out and putting it by my desk!

  15. theapexofhonor says :

    Reblogged this on theapexofhonor and commented:
    WONDERFUL!

  16. ehtesham says :

    so easy

  17. jeanjuan says :

    codswallup! pure codswallup!

  18. fmm0822 says :

    Reblogged this on This is MY Soapbox and commented:
    Those days where you just need to use a new word or something different because your copy has too many “amazings”! Here’s a great list!

  19. Reggie Brian says :

    This defeats the whole purpose of “newspeak” (1984) as well as making Twitter less usable! How dare you encourage people to exploit the richness of our language. Thanks for this list – I think I will stick it on my cork board.

  20. jrmessi says :

    Reblogged this on Jrmessi's Blog and commented:
    Interessante.

  21. Ahmad Fahrurroji says :

    This list of words that I want to use for my english writing.

    Thank you, so helpful.

  22. Arsh says :

    Thanks…I will improve my vocabulary moreover will help in my ielts exam… 🙂

  23. Suman says :

    It help to improve English

  24. Haseen Malik says :

    Good Work, Keep it up.

  25. Anjali says :

    Nice collection of Synonyms..Good

  26. shaqiba shamim says :

    It is a very helpful site for students
    Nice nice
    Whoever made this site i thank him or her.
    And carry on

  27. Afiniki Edwin says :

    it really interesting….i love it!!it a best synonyms collection

  28. thewelltravelledman says :

    Noteworthy (see what I did there) list of Synonyms. Thank you for sharing and hope to use some of these on my blog! http://www.thewelltravelledman.com

  29. lundi says :

    I like it very much guys.

  30. krystal says :

    its really helpfull

  31. BAKANO A. MURTALA says :

    I like every bit of the contribution (synonyms) above. You make English studies more exciting. I really treasure your effort. Keep it up.

  32. adeladlew guben says :

    waw i love it cause i got what i want thanks!!!

  33. Amaan says :

    This was a great and concise list of synonyms. Thanks for that.

  34. Bette A. Stevens says :

    Incredible! Thanks, Jacquie. Sharing everywhere! 🙂

  35. Slamet Widodo says :

    Better late than never. I just browsed and found it. In 1988, someone gave a WEBSTER’S NEW WOPRLD DICTIONARY – compact school & office edition. Your Synonyms is truly very helpful for me as an non-native english speaking teacher. I use it to improve learners’ understanding.

  36. ruheen says :

    Nice to learn synonyms bt if more could be better

  37. Peace says :

    You left off the word with the most synonyms drunk. It has nearly 3000 synonyms. too many to add them all.

  38. Shafiq Ahmed says :

    Very useful thank you 😀

  39. bansgorkhali says :

    very useful…TY

  40. said mohamed says :

    thank you mrs/ mr who spent his/her time for this bage you really helped me every synonyms you written hear it helped me and i got all of it’s advantages.

  41. Tuilika Andreas says :

    Hi. I love these synonyms. They helped me with my essays and letters in school throughout the year and i obtained outstanding results. I just want other words to be added like young, soft etc.

    Regards
    T. Andreas

  42. fexjo says :

    Its very interesting to have a list like this. Because its very good to improve the vocabulary

  43. Arun Narayanan says :

    Hi Zoe, This is indeed great … It will help us to improve our vocabulary. Thank you

  44. Kiro says :

    Helpful

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