Alternative Words for Overused Ones

SYNONYMS FOR WORDS COMMONLY USED IN STUDENT’S WRITINGS

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