Adjacent Words

Synonym definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SYN'ONYM, n. [Gr. with, and name.] A name, noun or other word having the same signification as another, is its synonym. Two words containing the same idea are synonyms.
He has extricated the synonyms of former authors.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to be synonymous relative to that context [syn: synonym, equivalent word] [ant: antonym, opposite, opposite word]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English sinonyme, from Latin synonymum, from Greek syn?nymon, from neuter of syn?nymos synonymous, from syn- + onyma name — more at name Date: 15th century 1. one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses 2. a. a word or phrase that by association is held to embody something (as a concept or quality) <a tyrant whose name has become a synonym for oppression> b. metonym 3. one of two or more scientific names used to designate the same taxonomic group — compare homonym • synonymic also synonymical adjective • synonymity noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another in the same language (e.g. shut and close). 2 a word denoting the same thing as another but suitable to a different context (e.g. serpent for snake, Hellene for Greek) or containing a different emphasis (e.g. blindworm for slow-worm). 3 a word equivalent to another in some but not all senses (e.g. ship and vessel). Derivatives: synonymic adj. synonymity n. Etymology: ME f. L synonymum f. Gk sunonumon neut. of sunonumos (as SYN-, onoma name): cf. ANONYMOUS

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Synonym Syn"o*nym, n. 1. An incorrect or incorrectly applied scientific name, as a new name applied to a species or genus already properly named, or a specific name preoccupied by that of another species of the same genus; -- so used in the system of nomenclature (which see) in which the correct scientific names of certain natural groups (usually genera, species, and subspecies) are regarded as determined by priority. 2. One of two or more words corresponding in meaning but of different languages; a heteronym. [Rare]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Synonym Syn"o*nym (s[i^]n"[-o]*n[i^]m), n.; pl. Synonyms (-n[i^]mz). [F. synonyme, L. synonyma, pl. of synonymum, Gr. synw`nymon. See Synonymous.] One of two or more words (commonly words of the same language) which are equivalents of each other; one of two or more words which have very nearly the same signification, and therefore may often be used interchangeably. See under Synonymous. [Written also synonyme.] All languages tend to clear themselves of synonyms as intellectual culture advances, the superfluous words being taken up and appropriated by new shades and combinations of thought evolved in the progress of society. --De Quincey. His name has thus become, throughout all civilized countries, a synonym for probity and philanthropy. --Macaulay. In popular literary acceptation, and as employed in special dictionaries of such words, synonyms are words sufficiently alike in general signification to be liable to be confounded, but yet so different in special definition as to require to be distinguished. --G. P. Marsh.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(synonyms) A synonym is a word or expression which means the same as another word or expression. The term 'industrial democracy' is often used as a synonym for worker participation. N-COUNT: oft N for n

Moby Thesaurus

Doppelganger, actual thing, antonym, articulation, carbon copy, copy, dead ringer, ditto, double, duplicate, equivalent, exact counterpart, expression, facsimile, free form, homograph, homonym, homophone, idem, identical same, lexeme, linguistic form, locution, logos, metonym, minimum free form, monosyllable, no other, none other, polysyllable, replica, selfsame, spit and image, spitting image, syllable, term, the same, the same difference, twin, usage, utterance, verbalism, verbum, very image, very same, vocable, word