Joy English
Joy English

C2 Vocabulary

C2Near-synonyms25 min

Near-synonyms: subtle differences

Tell apart pairs of words that look alike but carry different judgements, such as frugal and stingy, or concise and terse.

At the highest level, choosing a word is rarely about finding any word that fits; it is about finding the one whose shade of meaning, and whose built-in judgement, matches what you intend. Many near-synonyms describe the same behaviour but praise it or criticise it. Learn them in contrasting pairs, and always ask: is this word admiring, neutral or disapproving?

frugaladjective
careful about spending money in a sensible way; usually approvingYears of frugal living allowed Lena to retire early.
stingyadjective
unwilling to spend or give; disapproving and informalHe was too stingy to leave a tip, even after excellent service.
obstinateadjective
stubbornly refusing to change your mind, even when you should; disapprovingThe obstinate committee ignored every warning about the budget.
tenaciousadjective
holding on firmly to a goal and refusing to give up; usually admiringA tenacious researcher, Mina chased the missing data for a year.
meticulousadjective
showing great care and attention to detail; approvingThe restorer was meticulous, cleaning each tile with a tiny brush.
pedanticadjective
too concerned with small rules or details, often in an irritating wayIt seems pedantic to correct a friend's grammar in a text message.
terseadjective
using very few words, in a way that seems abrupt or unfriendlyHis terse email said only, "Not approved."
conciseadjective
giving all the necessary information in few words; approvingHer concise summary fitted neatly on a single page.
gullibleadjective
too ready to believe what others tell you, and so easily trickedGullible shoppers fell for the promise of instant weight loss.
naiveadjective
lacking experience of life, and so too trusting or hopefulIt was naive of us to expect the roadworks to finish on time.
reluctantadjective
unwilling and hesitating; followed by to + verbRavi was reluctant to speak first at the meeting.
averseadjective
strongly opposed or unwilling; followed by to + noun or -ing, often in "not averse to"I am not averse to working late if the project needs it.

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the word that fits

Choose the word that best fits the context. Pay attention to whether the sentence is admiring or critical.

  1. Her reply was so _____ that it felt almost rude: "No. See the policy."

  2. 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.

  3. Everyone knew Tomás was _____: he never contributed to a colleague's leaving gift and once charged his brother for a lift.

  4. After three failed prototypes, the director praised the engineers' _____ refusal to give up.

  5. The editor is so _____ that she once spent an afternoon arguing over a single comma in a casual note.

  6. I would not be _____ to a change of scene, if you can suggest somewhere quieter.

  7. Though _____ to criticise a friend, Mina felt she had to tell him the truth.

  8. Her report was admirably _____: every point was covered in just two pages.

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the sentences

Complete each sentence with one word from this list. Use each word once: naive, obstinate, meticulous, reluctant, stingy, averse, concise, pedantic.

  1. Her belief that every stranger would return a lost wallet came from a sheltered childhood.

  2. The farmer was too to consider any offer, however generous, and would not even listen to the surveyor's advice.

  3. A proofreader checks every date, spelling and footnote, however small.

  4. He is to speak in public, though he is far from shy once he starts.

  5. She gives so generously to others that no one would ever call her .

  6. I would be happy to walk; I am not at all to a bit of fresh air.

  7. Please keep your summary : one clear paragraph with no repetition.

  8. Mr Okafor is so about grammar that he corrects people's spoken sentences at dinner parties.

0 of 8 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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