Writers Write creates writing resources and shares writing tips. Use this mini-thesaurus to find synonyms for 95 commonly-used words when you write.

If you do a lot of writing, it’s good to have a selection of synonyms for commonly used words to hand. If you can, keep a thesaurus nearby or use an online thesaurus. Or you could just bookmark this page and use it as needed.

If you are unsure of the replacement word, look it up to see if it has the correct meaning for the sentence you are writing.

Synonyms for 95 Commonly Used Words in the English language

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, unfavourable, 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, sizeable, 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, atomise Bright — shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colourful, 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 — savoury, 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, savour, 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, post-haste, 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, marvellous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honourable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favourable, 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, disfavour, 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, succour, 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, tantalising, 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, scrutinise, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognise, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore Love — like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savour 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, modish, 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, passé, 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, favourite, 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 Scared — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorised, 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, utilise, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise Wrong — incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

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