Synonym: one of multiple words or expressions that have the same or similar meanings
- Glad and happy are synonyms.
Related word: one of multiple words that share a context-specific overlap in meaning, without serving as exact synonyms
- Excited and happy are related words.
Do you ever feel like your writing recycles the same five or six basic words, such as said and good? Words like these, the basic ones with general, wide-spanning meanings, tend to repeat themselves often in writing, regardless of the genre or occasion. When we use and hear these words often, we begin to mechanistically insert them into our writing, which dulls our text’s tone. Some commonly overused and overly general words, that we should make a point to diversify, include the following:
- said
- good
- bad
- happy
- sad
- interesting
- big
- beautiful
- know
- weird
- funny
- walk
Since these words often get overused, it’s helpful to have a bank of synonyms, words that have the same or a similar meaning, ready to swap for overused words, creating more variety and impact. Additionally, it helps to have a bank of related words, with more specific definitions than the initial word, to help our writing’s precision, accuracy, and specificity.
The Drawbacks of Recycling Common Words
Overusing words, like those listed above, negatively impacts your writing in several ways. For one, your audience becomes bored reading the same words over and over again. Using the same ubiquitous, blah words makes your ideas themselves seem more ubiquitous and blah, undeservedly so. To distinguish your sentences and ideas from each other and from those of other writers, use a variety of words instead of just a few. As they say, Don’t put all your eggs in one (diction) basket.
The words listed above also lack action, specificity, and the ability to illustrate an engaging picture in the reader’s mind. To describe a friend as funny may communicate the basic idea, but substituting the related word quick-witted attributes an intelligence and intentionality to her humor, so the audience understands the subject better. When we intentionally use the appropriate synonym or related word for the occasion, our writing becomes more specific, more engaging, and clearer all at once.
A Common Problem in Writing and Communication: Lack of Nuance
The world and everything in it—people, nature, countries, cities, art, books, emotions—present us with an infinitely complex experience and opportunity to analyze. Sometimes, it’s efficient to simplify our thoughts on things, describing a friend as funny or a city as nice in order to convey a basic idea. However, more often than not, these instances of efficient communication simply serve as small talk, and sometimes they even limit our abilities to consider and discuss the world around us.
By settling on describing a book as good, we don’t allow ourselves to reflect upon the variety of emotions and thoughts we had while reading it. Then, when it comes time to write about this book in an academic format, we struggle to reflect. In a different vein with a similar outcome, people in relationships benefit from clear and nuanced expression. To say “I had a nice time with you tonight” does not convey the same accuracy and truthfulness as saying “I felt carefree with you tonight.” By choosing to express our experience and thoughts with more specific language, we understand ourselves better and allow others to understand us better. Avoiding the overuse of general terms prevents lazy thought and communication.
Here are some swaps to help you on your path to specificity and clarity.
Synonym or Related-Word Swaps
Keep in mind that general synonyms include those words that substitute directly and generally for the overused word, while related words provide more-specific description and work only in relevant contexts.
1. Say/said (verb): to utter words to convey information
People use the verb said, the most general speech term, to tag dialogue or quote an author. However, the occasion of someone speaking provides a ripe opportunity to inject intensity, context, and emotion on behalf of the speaker or quoted text.
Overuse examples:
- In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout says, “Naw, Jem, I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.”
- My mother always said, “Think before you act.”
- In the article, author Trishla Ostwal said that “Identical twins may not be genetically identical, after all.”
General synonyms: state, tell, articulate, utter, tell, verbalize
Related words: call, wonder, discuss, share, declare, announce, reply, explain, whisper
Diversified examples:
- In Where the Wild Things Are, Max declares, “Let the wild rumpus start.”
- Author Laura Sanders explains that “The twilight time between fully awake and sound asleep may be packed with creative potential.”
- Toward the end of her book, Brene Brown mentions that imperfections “are reminders that we’re all in this together.”
2. Good (adjective): to be desired or approved of
A representative of all things positive, the adjective good indicates that something is likable or valid. Depending on the occasion, however, we can replace good with a more specific adjective to explain how or why the modified noun is good, adding detail while saving words.
Overuse examples:
- Serena Williams had a good performance in her tennis match.
- My company’s stock has good prospects.
- Your family’s new backyard fence looks good.
General synonyms: valid, positive, correct, reasonable, sensical, just, justified, likable, appropriate
Contextual, specific synonyms: great, helpful, encouraging, strong, successful, kind, friendly, optimistic
Diversified examples:
- Simone Biles always has a strong showing in the Olympics.
- Luckily, my wife makes successful investments.
- That nightstand makes a helpful addition to the room.
3. Bad (adjective): of poor quality or a low standard
The opposite of good, bad suffers from a similar case of overuse-itis. For many writers, anything that isn’t positive gets deemed bad. However, the adjective bad undermines the opportunity to explain why or how the described item is bad, causing our stories and explanations to suffer from vagueness.
Overuse examples:
- I feel bad.
- My ex is a bad person.
- It’s bad to eat too much fried food.
General synonyms: negative, poor, unwell, unwelcome, inferior, unacceptable, deficient, unfortunate
Contextual, specific synonyms: faulty, careless, defective, inaccurate, wrong, nasty, grim. awful
Diversified examples:
- I feel unwelcome when you make comments like that.
- My ex is a dishonest person.
- Overeating fried food has inflammatory effects.
4. Happy (adjective): feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
There are many different types of happiness, and people sometimes inaccurately describe their emotional state as happy when they really feel something slightly different. Below, find some context-specific words of varying intensities, which can be substituted for happy.
Overuse examples:
- I always feel happy on Christmas morning.
- Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha illustrates a boy’s lifelong journey to become happy.
- Melinda, the main character in the novel Speak, is not happy.
General synonyms: untroubled, delighted, jolly, glad, joyful, cheerful, merry, upbeat,
Context-specific synonyms: euphoric, ecstatic, content, joking, playful
Diversified examples:
- I always feel euphoric on Christmas morning.
- By the end of Siddhartha, the previously young man becomes untroubled.
- In Speak, the main character Melinda does not feel socially content.
5. Sad (adjective): feeling or showing sorrow
There are many different forms of sad, depending on the type and intensity of sadness the subject feels. While some words, such as unhappy, serve as direct synonyms for sad, other words like depressed or miserable bring certain qualities or intensities to the emotion. Next time you describe a subject as sad, consider the emotion’s qualities to select a more specific synonym.
Overuse examples:
- Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character in Charles’ Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, is sad before he gets visited by three ghosts.
- People in 1909 felt sad to hear about the Titanic sinking.
- The teacher delivered a sad goodbye at the end of the school year.
General synonyms: miserable, depressed, unhappy, down, sorrowful, despairing, melancholy
Context-specific synonyms: heartbroken, hurting, gloomy, sulky, sorry, mournful
Diversified examples:
- Before getting visited by three ghosts, A Christmas Carol’s main character Ebenezer Scrooge is cranky and miserable.
- People were heartbroken in 1909 when they heard about the Titanic’s sinking.
- The hurting teacher delivered a farewell to the class he had grown to love throughout the school year.
6. Interesting (adjective): arousing curiosity or interest
One of my professors used to say “never use the word interesting in your writing,” a rule that makes sense when you begin to notice how often people overuse the vague term. Interesting nearly always leaves room for a more specific adjective that explains why or in which way the described item is interesting, especially when we consider that interesting could have either a negative or positive connotation, depending on the context.
Especially in writing, where the audience has fewer contextual clues to decipher the meaning behind ambiguous language like interesting, seek to use more specific synonyms. Check out the examples below for ideas.
Overuse examples:
- The fly amanita mushroom has an interesting look.
- Claude Monet’s paintings have an interesting style.
- Honey, I must say, your choice of clothing is interesting.
General synonyms: fascinating, riveting, gripping, compelling, captivating, engaging, absorbing, curious, unusual
Context-specific synonyms (positive): lovely, stimulating, amusing, attractive, beautiful
Context-specific synonyms (negative): suspicious, odd, off-putting, concerning
Diversified examples:
- The fly amanita mushroom has a striking color.
- Claude Monet’s paintings have a lovely tone.
- Honey, I must say, your choice of clothing is suspicious.
7. Big (adjective):
- of considerable size, extent, or intensity
- of considerable importance or seriousness
In the last few decades, the adjective big has come to stand in for things either literally big or figuratively big; that is, things large in size or things large in importance. Given the adjective’s double-duty, it becomes even more important that we aim to use more specific synonyms for big so that we can describe the item as accurately as possible for our readers.
Overuse examples (size):
- In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Lennie is bigger than the other guys at the ranch.
- New York City seems big to Holden Caulfield, in The Catcher in the Rye.
- My family has a big orange tree out back.
General synonyms (size): large, massive, colossal, huge, enormous, immense, substantial
Related words (size): bulky, fat, oversize, husky, spacious, hulking, roomy, abundant, copious
Diversified examples:
- In Of Mice and Men, Lennie hulks over the other guys at the ranch.
- New York City seems enormous to Holden Caulfied in The Catcher in the Rye.
- My family has a huge orange tree out back, with abundant oranges.
Overuse examples (importance):
- In 1867, Russia made a big mistake by selling Alaska to the United States.
- When Atticus Finch decides to defend Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird, it becomes a big deal in the community.
- Steph Curry always makes big shots in close games.
General synonyms (importance): important, meaningful, significant, major, momentous, key, critical
Related words (importance): grave, serious, decisive, remarkable, valuable, impactful
Diversified examples:
- In 1867, Russia made a momentous mistake by selling Alaska to the United States.
- When Atticus Finch decides to defend Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird, it becomes a serious issue within his neighborhood.
- Steph Curry always makes decisive shots in close games.
8. Beautiful (adjective): pleasing to the senses or mind aesthetically
The adjective beautiful can describe a lot of things—a person, nature, weather, a feeling, luck, even the world itself. While, in general, the term describes items as attractive with a wondrous quality, and the term is not nearly as vague as interesting or good, we still want to avoid excessive use and consider more context-specific adjectives as alternatives.
Overuse examples:
- Many of Chris McCandless’ adventures in Into the Wild take place in beautiful Alaska.
- As The Great Gatsby continues, Nick Carraway learns that Gatsby throws his parties in the hopes of attracting the beautiful Daisy.
- What a beautiful day outside.
General synonyms: attractive, pretty, good-looking, handsome, pleasing, lovely, appealing
Related words: cute, graceful, classy, delicate, harmonious, angelic, radiant, fair, sublime
Diversified examples:
- In Into the Wild, McCandless decides to journey into the sublime wilderness of Alaska.
- Nick learns throughout the plot of The Great Gatsby that Jay Gatsby hosts his luxurious parties with the hope of landing the angelic Daisy.
- What a lovely day outside.
9. Know (verb)
- to be aware of
- to have developed a relationship with
Most writers will know the verb know’s definition: to be aware of, or in the interpersonal sense, to have developed a relationship with someone. The act of knowing, in both usages of the word, is such a common part of our experience that it makes sense the word know gets frequently overused.
However, since the verb has two different meanings, both frequently used, writers should make a point to stay on the lookout for the word know in their own writing, seeking to substitute a synonym or related word when applicable, to increase specificity and variety.
Overuse examples (to be aware of):
- Scientists know that scavenger beetles walk upside down beneath the water’s surface.
- Napoleon Bonaparte knew that a coup would be his best means of seizing political power in France.
- In Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, teenager Esperanza knows that her childhood environment cannot satisfy her ambitious desires for career and self actualization.
General synonyms: comprehend, grasp, understand
Related words: perceive, learn, believe, realize, recognize, see, fathom, experience
Diversified examples:
- Scientists now understand that scavenger beetles walk upside down beneath the water’s surface.
- Napoleone Bonaparte foresaw that a coup would be his best means for seizing political power.
- In The House on Mango Street, Esperanza realizes that her childhood environment cannot support her lofty dreams.
Overuse examples (to have developed a relationship with):
- In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie have known each other for their whole lives.
- Oh yeah, I know Michael Jordan. He’s my neighbor.
- Do you know the muffin man?
General synonyms: recognize, associate with, socialize with
Related words: partnered with, connected with, support, fraternize
Diversified examples:
- In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie have become brothers over their lifetimes.
- Oh yeah, I often speak with Michael Jordan. He’s my neighbor.
- Do you associate with the muffin man?
10. Weird (adjective): unusual or strange
I myself suffered from the overuse of the word weird, a condition known as “excessive weird-itis,” through my childhood and teenage years. In short, I referred to anything remotely out of the ordinary as weird. My friend’s comment? Weird. That song? Weird. My teacher’s lesson? Weird. How my stomach felt after eating Taco Bell? Weird.
My overuse of weird resulted in ambiguous messages to my audience. The adjective weird overarchingly ascribes an object with the quality of being abnormal. However, things can be abnormal for an abundance of reasons, positive or negative; to avoid misunderstanding, avoid leaning too heavily on the word weird, instead swapping synonyms and/or more-specific related words to give your audience a better understanding of what you mean.
Overuse examples:
- Ishmael, the narrator in Melville’s Moby Dick, has a weird obsession with the ocean.
- The Capybara, native to South America, is weird.
- The Renaissance, occurring centrally in Italy, was a weird period in history.
General synonyms: bizarre, odd, outlandish, remarkable, erratic, peculiar
Related words: abnormal, extraordinary, freakish, unique, uncommon, atrocious, bewildering
Diversified examples:
- Moby Dick’s narrator, Ishmael, has an extraordinary obsession with the ocean.
- The Capybara, native to South America, has unique facial proportions.
- The Renaissance, occurring during the 14th through 17th centuries, saw remarkable growth in artistic achievement.
11. Funny (adjective):
- arousing laughter or amusement
- different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
Another word that commonly does double-definition duty, funny can refer to something humorous as well as something suspicious (“that’s funny” in reference to a man walking backwards down the street). Funny often gets overused and leaves the opportunity to provide your reader with a more specific term to explain why or in what way the item is funny.
Overuse examples (arousing laughter or amusement):
- The narrator of Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim, has a funny way of looking at the world.
- In Lord of the Rings, the troll Gimli maintains a funny tone, even in tense situations.
- Abraham Lincoln is known as one of the funniest presidents in US history.
General synonyms: comical, hilarious, humorous, laughable, hysterical
Related words: amusing, clownish, flippant, playful, jocular, whimsical, mirthful
Diversified examples:
- Slaughterhouse-Five’s Billy Pilgrim has a flippant way of looking at the world.
- During the journey for the ring in Lord of the Rings, Gimli displays a comical and lighthearted tone.
- Abraham Lincoln is regarded as a humorous and sometimes playful president.
Overuse examples (different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion):
- In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo has a funny feeling when the Europeans first show up.
- My stomach feels funny since I ate that Chinese food.
- As Animal Farm’s plot progresses, readers suspect the pigs are up to something funny.
General synonyms: bizarre, weird, erratic, odd, curious
Related words: abnormal, freaky, rare, outrageous, shocking, unconventional, baffling
Diversified examples:
- In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo feels suspicious when the Europeans first show up.
- My stomach feels uncomfortable since I ate that Chinese food.
- As Animal Farm’s plot progresses, readers suspect the pigs are up to something atrocious.
12. Walk (verb): to go on foot
The definition of walk explains why people tend to overuse the word: to go on foot, a definition that covers many variations of foot travel. Writers use the word walk similarly to how they use said: as a substitute for a general action, in this case moving. I walked down the street. My crush walked over to me. However, describing a character’s movement on foot provides a great opportunity for the writer to ascribe emotion, intensity, and tone that adds to the story or character. Check out some ideas below.
Overuse examples:
- As Scout and Jem walk toward school, they notice something shimmering in Boo Radley’s tree.
- When Holden Caulfield walks through New York’s Central Park, he notices the ducks.
- My friend Jamie walked through the bar, approaching his crush.
General synonyms: tread, step
Related words: stroll, trot, make (one’s) way, march, hike, saunter, wander, gimp, stomp, mosey
Diversified examples:
- As Scout and Jem stroll past Boo Radley’s tree, they notice something shimmering inside it.
- When Holden Caulfield wanders through Central Park, he observes the ducks.
- My friend Jamie sauntered casually across the bar, toward his crush.
Wrapping up
A mindful writer keeps tabs on the words they repeat, using these repetitions as opportunities to add color and tone to the text’s characters, settings, and actions. Sometimes, the swap means using a direct synonym with the exact same meaning as the original word, simply for variety’s sake, but sometimes a writer may decide to substitute a related word that adds a more specific quality to the described item.
So by consciously making decisions like these about word choice, you become more aware as a writer, and your writing skill improves for it. So remain attentive to your patterns in word choice, and write on.
