Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context
Key Notes:
| What are Synonyms? |
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings. Think of them as word cousins! They aren’t exactly the same, but they share a lot of meaning.
- Example: Happy and joyful are synonyms.
| Synonyms as Context Clues |
Sometimes, you’ll come across a word you don’t know. Don’t panic! Synonyms can be your secret weapon. The sentence or surrounding sentences might include a synonym for the unknown word, giving you a clue to its meaning. This is called using context clues.
To effectively use synonyms as context clues:
- Identify the unfamiliar word.
- Look for words or phrases nearby that seem to have a similar meaning. These might be introduced by words like or, like, such as, in other words, or also known as.
- Replace the unfamiliar word with the potential synonym in the sentence. Does the sentence still make sense?
- If it does, you’ve likely found a good synonym! Use this information to figure out the meaning of the original word.
| Examples |
Example 1:
The speaker’s eloquent speech, or fluent and graceful way of speaking, captivated the audience.
- Unfamiliar word: eloquent
- Synonym clue: fluent and graceful
- Meaning: eloquent means speaking in a fluent and graceful manner.
Example 2:
The old house was dilapidated, a run-down and neglected state that made it an eyesore.
- Unfamiliar word: dilapidated
- Synonym clue: run-down and neglected
- Meaning: dilapidated means in a run-down and neglected condition.
| Practice Exercises |
Read each sentence and use the synonym context clue to determine the meaning of the underlined word. Write your answer below each sentence.
- The chef made a culinary creation, a delicious and artfully prepared meal that everyone enjoyed.
Meaning: ____________________________
- The movie was so tedious, boring and repetitive, that I almost fell asleep.
Meaning: ____________________________
- The landscape was barren, empty and desolate, with no trees or plants in sight.
Meaning: ____________________________
- The student’s meticulous work, careful and detailed, impressed the teacher.
Meaning: ____________________________
- Her benevolent actions, kind and generous, made a positive impact on the community.
Meaning: ____________________________
| Next Steps |
Keep an eye out for synonyms when you’re reading. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at using context clues to unlock the meaning of new words! You can also use a thesaurus (a book of synonyms) to expand your vocabulary.
Let’s practice!
