Synonyms are words that mean the same or nearly the same, like big and large. Knowing lots of synonyms lets children choose the most interesting, precise word for their writing.
What your child will learn
- Match words with their synonyms
- Choose a more interesting word to replace a plain one
- Pick synonyms that fit the feeling of a sentence
Nearly the same, not exactly
Synonyms often have small differences. “Walked”, “trudged” and “skipped” all mean moving on foot, but trudged sounds tired and skipped sounds happy. Choosing between them is how writers show feelings without saying them.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Which word means nearly the same as “scared”?
- calm
- brave
- bored
- afraid
Show answer
Answer: afraid. “Afraid” and “scared” are synonyms — they mean nearly the same thing.
2. True or false? “Huge” and “enormous” mean nearly the same thing.
Show answer
Answer: True. Both mean very big, so they are synonyms.
3. Which word means nearly the same as “happy”?
- cross
- sad
- sleepy
- glad
Show answer
Answer: glad. “Glad” and “happy” are synonyms — they mean nearly the same thing.
Tips for grown-ups
- Keep a “better words” list on the fridge: nice → lovely, wonderful, delightful.
- When reading, stop at a strong word and ask, “What else could the author have said?”