Joy English · Level C2 · Near-synonymsjoy-english.com
Near-synonyms: subtle differences
Name:Date:
Tell apart pairs of words that look alike but carry different judgements, such as frugal and stingy, or concise and terse.
Choose the word that fits
Choose the word that best fits the context. Pay attention to whether the sentence is admiring or critical.
- Her reply was so ___ that it felt almost rude: "No. See the policy."
- Lena is ___ with money: she cooks at home, repairs her shoes and saves a third of her salary, and her friends admire her for it.
- Everyone knew Tomás was ___: he never contributed to a colleague's leaving gift and once charged his brother for a lift.
- After three failed prototypes, the director praised the engineers' ___ refusal to give up.
- The editor is so ___ that she once spent an afternoon arguing over a single comma in a casual note.
- I would not be ___ to a change of scene, if you can suggest somewhere quieter.
- Though ___ to criticise a friend, Mina felt she had to tell him the truth.
- Her report was admirably ___: every point was covered in just two pages.
Complete the sentences
Complete each sentence with one word from this list. Use each word once: naive, obstinate, meticulous, reluctant, stingy, averse, concise, pedantic.
- Her ___ belief that every stranger would return a lost wallet came from a sheltered childhood.
- The farmer was too ___ to consider any offer, however generous, and would not even listen to the surveyor's advice.
- A ___ proofreader checks every date, spelling and footnote, however small.
- He is ___ to speak in public, though he is far from shy once he starts.
- She gives so generously to others that no one would ever call her ___.
- I would be happy to walk; I am not at all ___ to a bit of fresh air.
- Please keep your summary ___: one clear paragraph with no repetition.
- Mr Okafor is so ___ about grammar that he corrects people's spoken sentences at dinner parties.
Answer key
Choose the word that fits
- c) terseTerse means so brief that it seems unfriendly. Concise would be praise for efficiency and does not suit the rude effect.
- a) frugalThe admiration shows the word must be approving, so frugal. Stingy would be a criticism.
- b) stingyHis behaviour is mean rather than sensible, so stingy. Frugal is approving and does not describe such unkindness.
- d) tenaciousPraise needs an admiring word: tenacious. Obstinate suggests stubbornness that refuses good advice and would be a criticism.
- c) pedanticFussing over a trivial point shows excessive concern with small details, which is pedantic. Meticulous would be a compliment about careful work.
- b) averseNot averse to means quite willing to. Reluctant is followed by an infinitive, not by to + noun.
- d) reluctantReluctant to + verb means unwilling and hesitant. Averse would need to + noun or -ing and expresses stronger opposition.
- a) conciseAdmirably signals praise for saying much in few words, which is concise. Terse would imply an unfriendly tone.
Complete the sentences
- naive / naïve / trusting / innocentA trusting belief that comes from inexperience of life is naive.
- obstinate / stubborn / headstrong / pig-headed / pigheadedRefusing to listen and refusing to change one's mind is obstinate.
- meticulous / careful / thorough / conscientious / painstakingChecking every small detail carefully, in a positive sense, is meticulous.
- reluctant / unwilling / hesitant / loath / lothReluctant is followed by to + verb and means unwilling or hesitant.
- stingy / mean / miserly / tight-fisted / tightfisted / ungenerous / selfishSomeone who gives generously is the opposite of stingy.
- averse / opposedNot averse to + noun means quite willing; reluctant could not be followed by to + noun.
- concise / brief / short / succinctA short, complete paragraph without repetition is concise.
- pedantic / fussy / particular / strict / pickyCorrecting small points where it is unnecessary and irritating is pedantic.