Thesaurus skills

Choosing precise synonyms to improve your writing

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Match each common word to a more precise synonym. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: big, happy, sad, tired Right: enormous, delighted, miserable, exhausted
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2
Which word is the best synonym for 'said' in: 'He ___ angrily.'? A) shouted B) whispered C) murmured D) mumbled
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3
What does a thesaurus help you find? A) spellings B) definitions C) synonyms D) rhymes
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4
Which is a synonym for 'happy' that you might find in a thesaurus? A) sad B) tired C) joyful D) fast
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5
Replace 'walked' with a more precise synonym: She ___ along the beach when she was sad. She ___ along the beach when she was sad.
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6
Match each adjective to a stronger synonym. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: cold, hot, old, small Right: freezing, scorching, ancient, minuscule
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7
Which word best replaces 'nice' in this sentence: 'It was a ___ meal.'? A) delicious B) loud C) expensive D) quick
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8
Which word is the BEST replacement for 'pretty' in: 'The ___ sunset filled the sky with orange.'? A) breathtaking B) loud C) small D) modern
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9
Replace 'bad' with a more precise synonym: The ___ weather ruined our picnic. The ___ weather ruined our picnic.
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10
When using a thesaurus, what should you check before choosing a new word? A) That it fits the context and meaning B) That it is shorter than the original C) That it has more letters D) That it starts with the same letter
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Answer key

Thesaurus skills · for parents and teachers

1
big → enormous; happy → delighted; sad → miserable; tired → exhausted
A thesaurus helps you find more precise synonyms to improve your writing.
2
shouted
'Shouted' shows anger best. The others suggest quietness or hesitation.
3
synonyms
A thesaurus lists synonyms (and antonyms).
4
joyful
'Joyful' is a synonym for 'happy'.
5
trudged
'Trudged', 'wandered' or 'ambled' suggest a slow, sad walk. These show more about feeling than just 'walked'.
6
cold → freezing; hot → scorching; old → ancient; small → minuscule
Stronger synonyms add impact: freezing for cold, scorching for hot, ancient for old, minuscule for small.
7
delicious
'Delicious' is a precise synonym for 'nice' when describing food. The others change the meaning.
8
breathtaking
'Breathtaking' is far stronger than 'pretty' and matches the awe of a colourful sunset.
9
atrocious
Strong synonyms for 'bad' weather: atrocious, terrible, dreadful, appalling. Each carries more impact than 'bad'.
10
That it fits the context and meaning
Always check that the synonym suits the sentence and meaning. Two synonyms can have slightly different feelings.