Synonyms do not always mean exactly the same. Angry, cross and furious are synonyms, but furious is much stronger than cross. These differences are called shades of meaning.
Good writers choose the word with the right strength: a timid child, a confident child; a rapid stream, a slow river; a fragile vase, a sturdy table.
Antonyms help to show contrasts and make your descriptions sharper.
Before you use a word from a thesaurus, check its meaning in a dictionary: not every synonym fits every sentence.
Worked example
Order from weakest to strongest: furious, annoyed, cross.
- Annoyed is a little upset.
- Cross is stronger; furious is the strongest.
Answer:annoyed, cross, furious
Key words
- shades of meaning
- small differences between similar words
- precise
- exact
- thesaurus
- a book or tool of synonyms
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.4.5c