Antonyms and synonyms

• An antonym is a word that means the opposite of a given word (tall, short)
• Synonyms are words that have similar meanings (huge, massive, great)
• Some synonyms mean almost exactly the same thing so you can swap them and the sentence still sounds right (huge and massive)
• Other synonyms may be similar in meaning, but are used in different situations, so swapping them can make a sentence sound strange (great and bulky)
• Knowledge of synonyms and antonyms helps to build up vocabulary, aids comprehension and makes writing more interesting