Stuck in a Word Rut? Expand Your Vocabulary Today!

Do you find you use the same words over and over again? To reach a high level of English fluency—for your IELTS, job interviews, meetings, or simply your daily life—you need a broad range of vocabulary. One of the easiest ways to quickly improve your English level is to learn synonyms. Synonyms are simply different words that have the same or similar meanings. Today, you’ll learn 40 synonyms you can start using today.

Upgrade Your Language: From “Show” to “Demonstrate”

In this lesson, you’ll see a common word you may be familiar with, like show, and then you’ll learn a synonym that is more formal and more professional, like demonstrate. You can specifically use these synonyms in more formal and professional situations.

Why Synonyms Matter in Real-Life Contexts

Now, often words have different meanings. So this synonym is used when displaying or providing something, often in presentations or studies, which is commonly talked about in the workplace and on your IELTS.

Sound Like a Pro: “Showed” vs. “Demonstrated”

So, of course, you can say, The data clearly showed the trend, but to use the synonym, The data clearly demonstrated the trend—it instantly sounds more professional. And learning these synonyms will also help you understand natives.

Don’t Stress—Your Free Lesson PDF is Here!

Don’t worry about taking these notes because I summarize everything in a free lesson PDF. You can find the link in the description.

“Mostly” vs. “Predominantly”: Which Sounds Smarter?

Now, let’s review mostly and predominantly. Predominantly is used to describe something that happens or exists in most cases and is common in academic and professional contexts.

Make Your English Shine: “Improve” vs. “Enhance”

Now, let’s review improve and enhance. Enhance is used to make something better, especially design, quality, or experience.

Think Deeply? Use “Consider” Instead!

Instead of saying think about, you can use consider. And, of course, this is used when reflecting on options thoughtfully—so you’re giving a lot of thought.

“Say” vs. “State”: Formalize Your Speech

Just like before, let’s review say and state. State is used when expressing something verbally or in writing.

“Talk About” or “Discuss”? Know the Difference!

Now, let’s review talk about and the synonym discuss. So, of course, this is used to have a conversation or explanation about something.

Why Synonyms = Professional Success

To be honest, the common word is the one that I use more frequently. However, there are many times where I don’t want to use a common word—I want to sound more advanced or professional.

“Live” vs. “Reside”: When to Sound Official

Let’s review live and reside. Do you know this one? Notice that pronunciation: reside /rɪˈzaɪd/ (the voiced sound).

Small Tweaks, Big Impact: “Change” vs. “Modify”

Let’s review change and modify. Modify is used when making a small or precise change.

“Reduce” or “Minimize”? Choose Wisely!

Reduce already sounds advanced, but you can also say minimize. Minimize is used when lowering something as much as possible.

“Stop” vs. “Cease”: Command Authority

Let’s review stop and cease. Cease is used when ending an action but is often in writing or commands.

“Try” vs. “Attempt”: Show Serious Effort

Let’s review try and attempt. Attempt is used when making an effort, especially a serious effort.

“Get Better” vs. “Recover”: Formal Health Talk

Get better is the everyday word I use. If I want to sound a little more formal or professional, or if I’m discussing something with a medical provider, I might use recover instead.

“Think Carefully” or “Contemplate”? Go Deeper!

Now, you can use think carefully, or you can use contemplate. Contemplate is used when deeply thinking about something.

“Get Rid Of” vs. “Eliminate”: Stronger Word Choices

Get rid of is part of my daily vocabulary, but I also use eliminate as a synonym.

“Check” vs. “Verify”: Precision Matters

Let’s review check and verify. Verify is used when confirming something, often in technical or official contexts.

“Use Up” or “Deplete”? Master Advanced Vocabulary

Now, instead of use up, you can use deplete. And this is an excellent word to have in your vocabulary, especially in the context of resources.

“Tell the Truth” vs. “Confess”: Own Your Words

You may know this one from all your police dramas on TV. Instead of tell the truth, you can use confess.

“Big” vs. “Significant”: When Size Isn’t Everything

Now, instead of big, you can use significant, but this is used to describe something important, large in size, or with a strong effect—not the size of something.

“Small” vs. “Minor”: Subtle but Powerful Shifts

And let’s review small and minor. Minor is used for something not very important or very small in significance.

“Great” vs. “Excellent”: Level Up Your Praise

You already know this one. Instead of great, you can say excellent, but it’s a reminder to use it because even myself—although I know many synonyms for great—I still use great most of the time.

“Bad” vs. “Detrimental”: When Harm Needs Emphasis

And the opposite—we could say bad and detrimental, but not bad in the sense of He gave a bad presentation.

“Easy” vs. “Effortless”: Smooth Talk for Success

Now, instead of saying something is easy, you can say it’s effortless. So, of course, this is used when something requires little effort or it just feels natural.

“Hard” vs. “Challenging”: Turn Struggle into Strength

Instead of hard, describe something as challenging. So, of course, this is used when something is difficult but positive or encouraging.

“Look At” vs. “Observe”: Watch Like a Scientist

Instead of look at, you can use observe. Observe is used when watching carefully and is often used in science or analysis.

“Show Up” vs. “Appear”: Visibility with Flair

Now, let’s review show up and appear. Appear is used when something becomes visible or present.

“Go” vs. “Proceed”: Move Forward with Confidence

Let’s review go and proceed. Proceed is used when continuing or moving forward, often in instructions.

“Raise” vs. “Elevate”: Lift Your Language

Let’s review raise and elevate. Elevate is used when lifting or increasing something and sometimes is used metaphorically.

“Fall” vs. “Decline”: When Numbers Drop

Let’s review fall and decline. Decline is used when something decreases, often in reports.

“Famous” vs. “Prominent”: Stand Out in Any Field

Instead of famous, you can say prominent. Prominent is used to describe someone or something well-known or important in a particular area.

“Increase” vs. “Boost”: Power Up Your Speech

Instead of increased, you can use boost. Boost is used when something gets bigger, and it implies a sharp or helpful increase.

“Need” vs. “Require”: Formalize Your Requests

Instead of need, you can use require when something is necessary.

“Ask” vs. “Inquire”: Polite & Professional

Instead of ask, you can use inquire. Inquire is when requesting information and is often used in business or writing.

“Work” vs. “Operate”: Technical Precision

Instead of work, you can use operate in a specific context—when something functions, and it’s often technical or professional.

“End” vs. “Conclude”: Finish with Flair

Instead of end, you can say conclude. Conclude is when finishing something, common in reports or speeches.

“Give” vs. “Provide”: Offer with Authority

Instead of give, you can use provide when offering something.

“Keep” vs. “Retain”: Hold Onto Key Terms

Instead of keep, how about retain? Retain is to hold or not lose something, common in work or legal contexts.

“A Lot” vs. “Frequently”: Sound More Natural

Instead of a lot, you can use frequently—to describe something happening many times or often.

“A Long Time” vs. “Extended Time”: Refine Your Descriptions

Instead of a long time, you can say an extended time. Extended time is used to describe a duration that lasts for a significant amount of time.

Your 40 Synonyms Checklist—Start Using Them Now!

Now, you have 40 synonyms you can use to sound professional, to sound more advanced, and also sound natural.

Want More Synonyms? Let Us Know!

Do you want me to keep helping you with synonyms? If you do, put let’s go in the comments!

Like, Share & Subscribe for More English Tips!

And, of course, make sure you like this lesson, share it with your friends, and subscribe so you’re notified every time I post a new lesson.

Free Speaking Guide: Boost Your Confidence!

You can get this free speaking guide where I share six tips on how to speak English fluently and confidently.