3.1.8

Synonyms & Antonyms

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Synonyms

Synonyms are words which have the same (or very similar) meanings to each other.

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Origin of the word 'synonym'

  • 'Syn' means with.
  • 'onym' means name or word.
    • So 'synonym' literally means ‘with the word’ – words that go with or are like the original meaning.
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Example 1

  • Happy and cheerful are synonyms.
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Example 2

  • Eager and keen are synonyms.
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Example 3

  • Achieve and accomplish are synonyms.

Antonyms

Two words are antonyms if they have the opposite meaning.

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Origin of the word 'antonym'

  • 'Ant' means the opposite.
  • 'onym' means name or word.
    • So 'antonym' literally means ‘opposite of the word’ – words that have opposite meanings.
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Example 1

  • Strong and weak are antonyms.
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Example 2

  • Clean and dirty are antonyms.
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Example 3

  • Youngest and oldest are antonyms.

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1Spelling

2Punctuation

3Grammar

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