Some words mean nearly the same — Language, 4–6 years
Different words can point to a similar idea. Choosing one can make a sentence sound just right.
Words can be close in meaning
Some words are different but point to almost the same idea. “Happy” and “glad” are close in meaning, even though they are not the same word.
Why have more than one word?
If one word is difficult to remember, another nearby word may help you say the idea. People also choose between close words to make a message sound softer, stronger or more exact.
Choose a close word
Suppose you want to say that a puppy is happy. You could say, “The puppy is happy.” You could also say, “The puppy is glad.” Both work because “happy” and “glad” point to a similar feeling.
Nearly the same is not always the same
It is reasonable to think that close words can replace each other anywhere. But a word may sound too strong, too formal or simply not fit a particular sentence, so listen to how people use it.
When choosing how to say it
You use close words when telling a story, describing a toy or answering a question. “Big”, “huge” and “large” may all point to size, but one may fit your picture or feeling better.
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