Words that wow
Stop overusing the same words and incorporate these 10 great synonyms
Published on December 2, 2024
Credit: Joshua Hoehne
It's time to face it: when we're talking or writing, it's easy to fall into the habit of repeating the same words. Certain nouns, verbs, and adjectives predominate in our daily conversations, whether we're being formal or just chatting. If you're writing an essay or an article, or want to communicate with your friends more originally, keep reading! Today, we're going to revisit some fresh, fun, and super useful synonyms for 10 words we tend to overuse. Let's go for it!
Beautiful
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When you see something you like or find pretty, it can be hard to come up with a word that replaces the trusty "beautiful."
Luckily, our language has many great alternatives that can sound even better. From familiar ones like "gorgeous," "stunning," and "delightful" to some lesser-known terms, such as "beauteous," there are many variants to choose from.
The elegant "beauteous" is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as "very pleasing to look at." For instance, you might say, "I was given a bouquet of beauteous flowers."
Good
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One of the most overused words in our language has to be the adjective "good," and for good reason! It's really useful, thanks to its simplicity and effectiveness in describing pretty much anything: situations, contexts, objects, or people. However, if what you need is a change to sound more original, there are other words that can do the same job.
Depending on the context, simpler words like "worthy" or "fine," along with less common ones like "superb" (meaning excellent or of the highest quality), "salubrious" (good for health), or "propitious" (meaning "favorable") can be great options to replace the classic "good."
Bad
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Of course, not everything is good, right? Some things definitely deserve a negative description, and that's just the way it is. But it's hard to avoid the typical "bad."
While "bad" is broad and very effective, we're lucky to have some great alternatives that can make you feel more eloquent.
The choice of replacement will depend on how bad the thing you want to describe is, but here are some examples. The ones that first come to mind are "poor," "wrong," "deficient," or "pathetic," but there are also less used ones. A great option is "egregious," which is used to describe something that is clearly and extremely bad (i.e., "Their performance had egregious errors"). When describing behaviors or people, you can choose terms like "nefarious" or "vile."
Interesting
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Another adjective we often use is "interesting." You're probably familiar with some possible synonyms such as "intriguing," "engaging," or even the slightly dramatic "captivating." But if something catches your attention, arouses your interest, or makes you feel curious, English is full of other less frequent words that can come in handy.
Take, for example, "noteworthy," defined as notable or remarkable. Then there's "gripping," used to describe something that holds your attention or is exciting. And don't forget "enthralling," a quite similar term describing something fascinating that awakens interest.
Very
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Let's leave the adjectives alone for a while. Now it's time for an adverb, those words that serve to highlight the intensity of an adjective or another adverb.
"Very" is one of the most used words in our language; in fact, you might not have even noticed that you've already read it here 3 times before getting to this point. Being so common and frequent, it is normal that we forget to look for a synonym to replace it and get out of the repetition beyond the typical "too," "so," "super," or "really."
"Highly" is a good alternative, and so are other adverbs such as "extremely," "incredibly," or even "remarkably." What others would you add to this list?
Mad
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When it's time to talk about feelings, things can get a bit complicated. It's always helpful to remember a few words for those moments when emotions feel overwhelming or you're just not sure what to say.
If someone did something that made you feel bad, instead of just saying, "I'm mad," you can express yourself with some synonyms that fit your situation better.
For instance, if your neighbor has once again blocked your garage door with his car, you might say you're "annoyed" or "irritated." If that frustration is even higher, you could say, "I'm exasperated!" In another situation, if your friend forgot her boyfriend's birthday and it hurt his feelings, you could think that he might be "offended." Finally, if something got on your nerves and you just couldn't hold back your anger, then the word you might need is "furious!"
Big
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The classic "big" is popular for several good reasons: it is a simple and versatile word that fits into different situations, and it's also easy to get whether you're talking about something literal or using it in a more metaphorical sense.
But we also have a lot of words at our disposal that can fulfill these functions just as well. If you're talking about proportions or size, you can opt for familiar terms like "large" or "huge," or go with some less-used options like "gigantic" or "colossal." And when you want to highlight an important situation, instead of saying, "This is a big step in his life," you could use adjectives like "significant," "serious," or "major" instead!
Answer
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The word "answer" can serve as a verb and a noun, so its synonyms can change based on how it's used in context.
As a verb, you can read it at the beginning of an essay or paper, where the author indicates that they're trying to answer a research question through their work. In this context, it could be replaced by verbs like "solve" or "explain."
On the other hand, if "answer" is employed as a noun and you suddenly get a text that says, "I demand answers!" you might suggest synonyms such as "explanations," "responses," or, depending on the context, "solutions."
Give
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One of the most beautiful words in any language has to be the verb "give," especially for its meaning.
Plus, that word has many synonyms that can fit different situations perfectly. For instance, instead of "giving" answers, you can "provide" them, and instead of "giving" a gift, you can "deliver" it or just "gift" (as a verb). Similarly, when you're ready to give something of yourself to a common cause, you might say "donate" or "contribute."
But there's another, less frequent word you might come across: "regale." It's used when someone is treated to food, drink, or an enjoyable experience. For example, "They regaled their guests with an extravagant meal."
Funny
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A good laugh can turn your day around, right? And a funny story is always worth sharing. So, let's see some great synonyms for "funny." Words like "hilarious" and "comical" are perfect. And if the situation has escalated to something extreme, you can opt for "ridiculous" or "absurd." While they're not exact synonyms, they can perfectly describe a humorous episode.
On the other hand, we all know that person who is so funny that everything that comes out of their mouth is taken as a joke. If you want to describe that funny friend more originally, you can try using "amusing" or "witty." What other synonyms would you add?
