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Writing Tips: Synonyms and Antonyms

4-minute read

• 22nd September 2021

If you find yourself using the same words repeatedly in your writing , or struggling to find the right words to explain contrasting ideas, you may need to use more synonyms and antonyms. But what are these exactly? And how can you use them effectively? Check out our guide below to learn more.

What are Synonyms?

Synonyms are words or phrases with the exact same or similar meaning to one another. For example, “fun,” “entertaining,” and “enjoyable” are all words we can use to describe a thing or activity that brings light-hearted pleasure. This means they are synonyms and we can use them interchangeably in certain situations:

The party last night was really fun !

The party last night was really entertaining !

The party last night was really enjoyable !

Using synonyms is a great way to avoid repeating words too often in your writing (although it’s fine to repeat common terms like “is,” “I,” “it,” and similar). If you need a synonym for a word, you can usually find one by checking a thesaurus .

What are Antonyms?

Antonyms are words or phrases that are opposite in meaning. For example:

She drives a really slow car.

She drives a reall y fast car.

In most cases, like with the words “slow” and “fast” above, switching a word for an antonym can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

Most thesauruses include antonyms for words as well as synonyms. This can be useful if you can’t think of a word to express the opposite of something. For example, if you want to say you are “not tired” without using “not,” you could look up “tired” in a thesaurus and find a list of words like “energized” and “lively.”

Sometimes, you can also form an antonym by adding a negative prefix to a root word (e.g., happy and un happy , like and dis like , or polite and im polite ).

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Common Synonym Errors

Be careful when using synonyms! Some have subtle differences that can change the meaning of a sentence. Take “quietly” and “inaudibly,” for example:

She played her music quietly so that it wouldn’t upset her neighbors.

She played her music inaudibly so that it wouldn’t upset her neighbors.

Although “quietly” and “inaudibly” can both imply a low volume, “inaudibly” suggests that the volume was so low, it was impossible to hear the music. Thus, while these words are synonyms, they aren’t interchangeable in every situation.

Similarly, some words have more than one meaning. “Save,” for example, can mean “rescue” (e.g., “She saved the dog from the river”) or “store” (e.g., “I am saving my money”). And if you use the wrong synonym, your sentence won’t make sense:

She saved the dog from the river. ✔

She rescued the dog from the river. ✔

She stored the dog from the river. ✘

When looking up synonyms, then, you should always check the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases before using them in your writing.

Summary: Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms and antonyms are both useful when writing. Remember:

• A synonym is a word that has the same or a similar meaning to another word (e.g., synonyms for “hot” include “scorching,” “boiling,” “warm,” and “sultry”).
• An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning to another word (e.g., antonyms for “hot” include “cold,” “freezing,” “cool,” and “frigid”).

Using synonyms and antonyms can thus help you write more expressively. But, as you can see, it is important to use the right words so that your writing remains easy to understand. Luckily, our team of expert editors can help! Give our proofreading service a try by uploading a trial document for free today.

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Synonyms and antonyms of essay in English

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the fact that people or animals do what they are told to do

Binding, nailing, and gluing: talking about fastening things together

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Synonyms for essay

• composition
• dissertation
• disquisition
• undertaking
• have a go at
• have a shot at
• have a crack at
• have a bash at

a relatively brief discourse written especially as an exercise

A procedure that ascertains effectiveness, value, proper function, or other quality, a trying to do or make something, to make an attempt to do or make, to subject to a procedure that ascertains effectiveness, value, proper function, or other quality, an analytic or interpretive literary composition, related words.

• piece of writing
• written material
• thanatopsis

a tentative attempt

Make an effort or attempt.

• pick up the gauntlet
• take a dare
• give it a try
• give it a whirl
• take a chance
• take chances
• lay on the line
• put on the line

put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to

• pass judgment
• Esperantido
• espionage agent
• espionage network
• espresso maker
• espresso shop
• esprit de corps
• esprit de l'escalier
• essential amino acid
• essential condition
• essential hypertension
• essential oil
• essential thrombocytopenia
• essential tremor
• essentiality
• essentially
• essentialness
• established
• established church
• establishment
• establishmentarian
• establishmentarianism
• Essad Pasha
• Essad Pasha Toptani
• Essad Toptani
• Essai Fondé sur la Préférence du Patient
• Essais Cliniques en Lorraine
• Essais Cliniques et Validation
• Essais d'Aptitude Par Inter-Comparaison
• Essais Périodiques
• Essanay Film Manufacturing Company
• Essar Power Gujarat Ltd.
• Essar Shipping and Logistics Ltd.
• Essarts Club Archerie
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A thesaurus is a tool you can use to search for synonyms and antonyms of other words. There are different types of thesauri and different methods for accessing information from them. Thesauri can come in the form of a book, an electronic device, a web site, or a word processing tool.

When to Use a Thesaurus

How many times have you struggled to find the best word to describe a feeling, a scene, or an impression? A thesaurus is used to help you become more precise (if you are working on a technical paper) and descriptive (if you are writing a creative piece) in your writing. It provides a list of suggested “replacements” for any word you have in mind. The thesaurus helps you zero in on the best word choice.

A thesaurus can also be used as a vocabulary builder. You can use a thesaurus to discover new ways of expressing yourself.

Accessing a Thesaurus

• If you are typing a paper in Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, you can access a thesaurus at any time by searching under the “tools” list. You may also right-click on a word and find alternate word suggestions.
• If you are working on a computer with Internet access, you can visit Thesaurus.com and conduct a word search.
• You can purchase a handbook or an electronic thesaurus and carry it along in your backpack.

When You Shouldn’t Use a Thesaurus

Some teachers ask students to limit their use of a thesaurus. Why? If you rely too much on a thesaurus as you write a paper, you can end up with a paper that sounds amateurish. There is an art to finding a perfect word; but the nuance of expressions can work against you as easily against you as it could work for you.

In short: don’t overdo it! Be a little parsimonious (thrifty, prudent, economical, sparing, careful, penny-wise, skimping, sparing, frugal) when using a thesaurus.

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Thesaurus check.

Often, changing just one word in a sentence allows a writer to present a more nuanced or specific idea. The contextual thesaurus allows you to explore a wider vocabulary. Unlike most thesaurus suggestions, our report takes into account the context of the word in the sentence and offers replacement words that fit within that context.

The thesaurus report is designed to run on smaller pieces so it will only run on the first few thousand words. Any more and it would take too long to run (and the amount of time for you to go through it would be overwhelming).

We've also color-coded the words in the report so that verbs, adjectives, nouns, and adverbs are highlighted in different colors. This will allow you to easily concentrate on a specific class of word as you go through the report.

The Thesaurus Check helps you expand your vocabulary and enrich your writing.

Consider the sentence:

• I need to take a book with me if I book a flight.

Here, the word 'book' is being used in two contexts: a novel, and to reserve. Our thesaurus report will suggest novel as a suitable replacement in the first instance, and reserve in the second.

With the thesaurus report, you can quickly scan through your document and select from relevant suggested replacements. Obviously, you won't want to accept all of the replacements. The report is designed to help you explore the language you're using. You still need to think about whether the suggestions correctly fits the exact meaning that you want to convey.

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What is another word for essay ?

Synonyms for essay ˈɛs eɪ or, for 3,5 , ɛˈseɪ; ɛˈseɪ es·say, this thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word essay ., english synonyms and antonyms rate these synonyms: 2.7 / 3 votes.

To attempt is to take action somewhat experimentally with the hope and purpose of accomplishing a certain result; to endeavor is to attempt strenuously and with firm and enduring purpose. To attempt expresses a single act; to endeavor , a continuous exertion; we say I will endeavor (not I will attempt ) while I live. To attempt is with the view of accomplishing; to essay , with a view of testing our own powers. To undertake is to accept or take upon oneself as an obligation, as some business, labor, or trust; the word often implies complete assurance of success; as, I will undertake to produce the witness. To strive suggests little of the result, much of toil, strain, and contest, in seeking it; I will strive to fulfil your wishes, i. e. , I will spare no labor and exertion to do it. Try is the most comprehensive of these words. The original idea of testing or experimenting is not thought of when a man says "I will try ." To attempt suggests giving up, if the thing is not accomplished at a stroke; to try implies using other means and studying out other ways if not at first successful. Endeavor is more mild and formal; the pilot in the burning pilot-house does not say "I will endeavor " or "I will attempt to hold the ship to her course," but "I'll try , sir!"

Synonyms: attempt , endeavor , endeavor , strive , try , undertake

Antonyms: abandon , dismiss , drop , give up , let go , neglect , omit , overlook , pass by , throw away , throw over , throw up

Princeton's WordNet Rate these synonyms: 1.0 / 2 votes

an analytic or interpretive literary composition

a tentative attempt

try, seek, attempt, essay, assay verb

make an effort or attempt

"He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world"

Synonyms: attempt , examine , search , stress , adjudicate , strain , seek , look for , assay , try out , try , prove , test , try on , taste , hear , set about , undertake , sample , judge , render

test, prove, try, try out, examine, essay verb

put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to

"This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe"

Synonyms: audition , rise , analyze , leaven , try , sample , show , testify , establish , test , evidence , try out , study , examine , see , seek , try on , probe , quiz , attempt , raise , adjudicate , render , prove , shew , judge , screen , taste , turn out , demonstrate , turn up , experiment , strain , analyse , stress , hear , canvass , assay , canvas , bear witness

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Editors contribution rate these synonyms: 0.0 / 0 votes.

piece of writing

write an essay of a students

Dictionary of English Synonymes Rate these synonyms: 0.0 / 0 votes

Synonyms: attempt , try , endeavor

Synonyms: attempt , trial , endeavor , effort , struggle , aim

Synonyms: tract , dissertation , treatise , disquisition , brief discourse

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words Rate these synonyms: 0.0 / 0 votes

Synonyms: dissertation , article , disquisition , thesis , attempt , effort , trial

PPDB, the paraphrase database Rate these paraphrases: 1.0 / 1 vote

List of paraphrases for "essay":

dissertation , test , trial , drafting , composition , testing

How to pronounce essay?

How to say essay in sign language, words popularity by usage frequency, how to use essay in a sentence.

Neama Rahmani :

Bail reform and COVID delays claim another innocent victim, george Gascon has been largely criticized for the increase in violent crime in Los Angeles. Los Angeles’s time George Gascon stops acting like a defense attorney and allows prosecutors to charge violent felons with sentencing enhancements. George Gascon, the progressive Los Angeles district attorney, has raised the ire of law enforcement and George Gascon own assistant DAs for George Gascon allegedly soft-on-crime policies. Los Angeles POLICE ID Shawn Laval Smith AS SUSPECTED KILLER OF Brianna Kupfer Homicides are up more than 60 % in the City of Los Angeles and over 90 % in Los Angeles, according to records from the LAPD and sheriff’s office. Eric Siddall, the vice president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys, excoriated Gascon in an essay published to the union’s website this week.

William Barr :

The fact of the matter is that, in waging a scorched earth, no-holds-barred war of ‘Resistance’ against this Administration, it is the Left that is engaged in the systematic shredding of norms and the undermining of the rule of law. This highlights a basic disadvantage that conservatives have always had in contesting the political issues of the day. It was adverted to by the old, curmudgeonly Federalist, Fisher Ames, in an essay during the early years of the Republic.

Mao Zedong :

A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.

Miguel Proenca :

There could not be a more interesting time to explore the issue of the European borders, and obviously the refugee crisis and the terrorist attacks gave a different meaning to the project we are developing, because we decided to focus on the domestic borders, in the larger picture, the questions that we were asking ourselves and the essay raised is still the same and is about the identity of Europe: the multiculturalism, citizenship, economy, different speeds of growing, communitarian isolation and discrimination.

Kristerfer Burnett :

This is a real problem right now, because you can’t write an essay on your smartphone - you need a good internet to stay in touch with your teachers. we are getting bombarded with upset families who are saying that only one of their children can be on the internet at a time.

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Definition of 'essay'

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essay in British English

Essay in american english, examples of 'essay' in a sentence essay, cobuild collocations essay, trends of essay.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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adjective as in rooted

Strongest matches

Strong matches

• established

adjective as in subject to

Weak matches

• conditional
• contingent on

preposition as in of

• appertaining to
• appropriate to
• as concerns
• attributed to
• belonging to
• characterized by
• coming from
• connected with
• consisting of
• epithetical
• in reference to
• in regard to
• peculiar to
• pertaining to
• proceeding from
• referring to

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Related words.

Words related to based on are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word based on . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

preposition as in from

adjective as in implanted

adjective as in liable to be subjected

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On this page you'll find 8 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to base on, such as: build, depend on, form on, found on, hinge on, and place on.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.