English

Grammar : Synonyms, Antonyms

Faeeza Adam

Grade 12
Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms,
Homophones, Homographs

Synonyms: Words with similar meanings.

Example: happy, glad, joyful
Antonyms: Words that have the opposite
meaning to another.
Example: legal -> illegal
Homonyms: Words that sound the same or are
spelt the same, but have different
meanings.
Example: Bark - the noise a dog makes
Bark – the outer coating of a tree’s trunk
Homophones: Words that sound alike, but are
spelt differently and/or have
different meanings.
Example: eight - a number & ate - past tense of
‘eat’
Homographs: Words that are spelt alike but
have different meanings, and may
also be pronounced differently.
Example: wind – the movement of air
wind - turning a mechanism
What are Paronyms?

Definition: These are defined as the words which are

different in meaning or use but are similar in form of
derivations, such words are called Paronyms. That
means they are similar in meanings but different in
pronouncing.

Why it is necessary to understand Paronyms

and Homonyms?
Confusion is often caused in understanding the
meaning of certain words because they are either
similar in meaning and form or similar in their sound
of pronunciation. To overcome this problem we have
two categories in which we can divide words on the
basis of their

Meaning and
Pronouncing.
Examples of Paronyms and Homonyms:

.
Wrest – (snatch by force) The enemy wrested his
gun and killed him.
Rest – (peace) Please go and take rest now.

Symbol – (sign, to represent something) . The

white dove is a symbol of peace.
Cymbal – (a musical instrument) The melodious
sound of the cymbals impressed every body.

Rapt – (fully attentive) They listened to the speech

of the Prime Minister with rapt attention.

Wrapt – (lost in, absorbed) She did not notice my

arrival as she was wrapt in her thoughts.

Activities: complete the activities on the pages that

follow.
•Activity 1:
Directions: Choose the word that is most nearly
opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters.
1. ASSUAGE
A. mitigate
B. inflame
C. inhibit
D. conciliate
E. Aver

2. ROMANTIC
A. frivolous
B. pensive
C. earthy
D. tacit
E. Scathing

3. INFIRM
A. hospitable
B. equestrian
C. tremulous
D. robust
E. Anaemic
4. ANOMALY
A. recurrence
B. aberration
C. recapitulation
D. felicity
E. Consistency

5. MELANCHOLY
A. exuberant
B. composed
C. lugubrious
D. fetid
E. Esteemed

6. ADROIT
A. gauche
B. lumbering
C. amateurish
D. adept
E. Uncouth

7. YOKE
A. mar
B. fell
C. pervert
D. split
E. conjoin
8. INANE
A. tawdry
B. keen
C. vacuous
D. innocuous
E. Pellucid

9. INDULGE
A. abstain
B. quaff
C. regress
D. absolve
E. Imbibe

10. REPULSION
A. repugnance
B. aversion
C. destitution
D. petulance
E. attraction
Activity 2:Choose the best synonym for the
following words.

1) pillory
A. scorn
B. extol
C. applaud
D. revere
E. Laud

2) mollify
A. disseminate
B. assuage
C. contradict
D. help
E. Persuade

3) blandish
A. coax
B. greet
C. relish
D. return
E. Begin
4) bolster
A. reinforce
B. bulletin
C. remand
D. allow
E. Hold

5) avenge
A. harm
B. revenge
C. retaliate
D. castigate
E. Malign

6) undulate
A. oscillate
B. understand
C. deny
D. reject
E. uphold
Activity 3:
Find Paronyms for the following words:

1) alternately
2) collision
3) conjuncture
4) excise
5) prolepsis
6) continuous
7) affect
8) upmost