Synonyms and antonyms are used to avoid over-using words. They help to build vocabulary and broaden your understanding of the world.
Synonyms
Synonyms are words with a similar or the same meaning. The word ‘syn’ means ‘the same.
Examples of synonyms:
| Word | Synonym |
| private | secret |
| lucky | fortunate |
| build | construct |
| quarrel | argue |
Antonyms: are words that have opposite meanings. The word ‘anti’ means ‘opposite’ or ‘anti’.
For example
“The lion ambled up to its prey” is not as effective as “The lion stalked its prey” but they are both synonyms for the word ‘walk’.
| Word | Antonym |
| private | public |
| lucky | unlucky |
| build | demolish, destroy |
| quarrel | agree |
A prefix/beginning can sometimes be added to a word to make an antonym.
Many of the prefixes used to make an antonym begin with ‘dis-’, ‘un-’, ‘im-’, ‘ir-’, ‘il-’ and ‘in-’.
For example
like – dislike
Patient-impatient
Accurate-inaccurate
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