Connect Synonyms with the Strongest Link

You may have already looked at antonyms (words meaning the opposite to each other) but now here’s a challenge about synonyms.  

Can you help us out with these, word detective?

What do you notice about the words below?

gleam        shine         glimmer

They all mean the same thing: glow.

These words are called synonyms.

Synonyms are words that mean the same or have a very similar meaning to other words.

We could also use the following words as synonyms for glow: radiance, luminosity, brilliance.

Which of the following are synonyms for excited?

lively        bored        elated        enthusiastic        relaxed

Lively, elated and enthusiastic are all synonyms for excited as they mean the same or a similar thing.

A thesaurus is a great resource to use to look up synonyms for words.

Let’s try another:

Which of the following words is a synonym for spring?

leap        sit        jog

The answer is leap as it has the closest meaning to spring.

Pssst!!             Here's a handy hint to help you reach superstar status:             The first letter of the word synonym is the same as the first letter for similar.  It’s a clever trick to remember what synonym means.

If you come across any new words in this activity, make a note of them so that you can use them in your writing.

It’s now your turn to identify synonyms.  

Good luck!