4 Comments// Posted in english, teaching, writing by Nor Fadzleen Sa don on 08.06.14.

After my viva, I took the opportunities to revive my passion in ELT by sharing my ideas and experience with other teachers and students. Thank you to MRSM Tun Ghaffar Baba, Jasin, Melaka and SMK Taman Desa Jaya, Johor Bahru for inviting me. In sha Allah, I’ll be heading to Miri next week for a series of workshops for both teachers and students. Although I’m no longer teaching, I feel it is important to revive my knowledge and experience with others, sharing is caring after all. Whenever ex students or blog visitors sent e-mails or messages on English Language, I tried my best to help out as well as keep abreast with the latest updates in the current Malaysian education system. just so I won’t be out of the loop.

One of the common qualms of students when it comes to writing is the lack of vocabulary. Most of the time, they tend to stick to ‘safe’ words, cliches such as ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘nice’, you catch my drift. Hence, I strongly suggest that apart from checking out thesaurus.com, this list of words that I’ve came across from this site might be very helpful to assist students to write well and express their thoughts immaculately. This is the mini thesaurus for writers, on common words that we tend to overuse and perhaps need a breather and spared with reviving alternatives. Check them out!

Synonyms for 95 Commonly Used Words in the English language

1. Amazing — incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary
2. Anger — enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden
3. Angry — mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed
4. Answer — reply, respond, retort, acknowledge
5. Ask — question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz
6. Awful — dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant
7. 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
8. 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
9. Begin — start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate
10. Big — enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous
11. Brave — courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome
12. Break — fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize
13. Bright — shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colourful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual
14. Calm — quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof
15. Come — approach, advance, near, arrive, reach
16. Cool — chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid
17. Crooked — bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag
18. Cry — shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl
19. Cut — gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce
20. Dangerous — perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe
21. Dark — shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad
22. Decide — determine, settle, choose, resolve
23. Definite — certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious
24. Delicious — savoury, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite
25. Describe — portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record
26. Destroy — ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish
27. Difference — disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility
28. Do — execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain
29. Dull — boring, tiring„ tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary
30. Eager — keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to
31. End — stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance
32. Enjoy — appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savour, like
33. Explain — elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for
34. Fair — just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest
35. Fall — drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble
36. False — fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious
37. Famous — well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious
38. Fast — quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, post-haste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash
39. Fat — stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine
40. Fear — fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension
41. Fly — soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise
42. Funny — humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly
43. 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
44. Go — recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed
45. 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
46. Great — noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty
47. Gross — improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low
48. Happy — pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed
49. Hate — despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavour, dislike, disapprove, abominate
50. Have — hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy
51. Help — aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succour, benefit, befriend, abet
52. Hide — conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil
53. Hurry — rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle
54. Hurt — damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain
55. Idea — thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief
56. Important — necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known
57. Interesting — fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing
58. Keep — hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support
59. Kill — slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish
60. Lazy — indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish
61. Little — tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute
62. Look — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore
63. Love — like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savour
64. Make — create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get
65. Mark — label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate
66. Mischievous — prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive
67. 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
68. Moody — temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, modish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy
69. Neat — clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely
70. New — fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent
71. 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
72. Part — portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment
73. Place — space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state
74. Plan — plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint
75. Popular — well-liked, approved, accepted, favourite, celebrated, common, current
76. Predicament — quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam
77. Put — place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build
78. Quiet — silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful
79. Right — correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair
80. Run — race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee
81. Scared — afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive
82. Show — display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose
83. Slow — unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack
84. Stop — cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit
85. Story — tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir
86. Strange — odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular
87. 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
88. Tell — disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat
89. Think — judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate
90. Trouble — distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort
91. True — accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch
92. Ugly — hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome
93. Unhappy — miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad
94. Use — employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise
95. Wrong — incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

 

---

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.