Words that wow

Stop overusing the same words and incorporate these 10 great synonyms

Image: Joshua Hoehne

It's time to face it: when we're talking or writing, it's easy to fall into the habit of repeating the same words. Certain nouns, verbs, and adjectives predominate in our daily conversations, whether we're being formal or just chatting. If you're writing an essay or an article, or want to communicate with your friends more originally, keep reading! Today, we're going to revisit some fresh, fun, and super useful synonyms for 10 words we tend to overuse. Let's go for it!

Image: Joshua Woroniecki

When you see something you like or find pretty, it can be hard to come up with a word that replaces the trusty "beautiful."

Luckily, our language has many great alternatives that can sound even better. From familiar ones like "gorgeous," "stunning," and "delightful" to some lesser-known terms, such as "beauteous," there are many variants to choose from.

The elegant "beauteous" is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as "very pleasing to look at." For instance, you might say, "I was given a bouquet of beauteous flowers."

Image: Tash Williams

One of the most overused words in our language has to be the adjective "good," and for good reason! It's really useful, thanks to its simplicity and effectiveness in describing pretty much anything: situations, contexts, objects, or people. However, if what you need is a change to sound more original, there are other words that can do the same job.

Depending on the context, simpler words like "worthy" or "fine," along with less common ones like "superb" (meaning excellent or of the highest quality), "salubrious" (good for health), or "propitious" (meaning "favorable") can be great options to replace the classic "good."

Image: Josh Hild

Of course, not everything is good, right? Some things definitely deserve a negative description, and that's just the way it is. But it's hard to avoid the typical "bad."

While "bad" is broad and very effective, we're lucky to have some great alternatives that can make you feel more eloquent.

The choice of replacement will depend on how bad the thing you want to describe is, but here are some examples. The ones that first come to mind are "poor," "wrong," "deficient," or "pathetic," but there are also less used ones. A great option is "egregious," which is used to describe something that is clearly and extremely bad (i.e., "Their performance had egregious errors"). When describing behaviors or people, you can choose terms like "nefarious" or "vile."

Image: Masjid Pogung Dalangan

Another adjective we often use is "interesting." You're probably familiar with some possible synonyms such as "intriguing," "engaging," or even the slightly dramatic "captivating." But if something catches your attention, arouses your interest, or makes you feel curious, English is full of other less frequent words that can come in handy.

Take, for example, "noteworthy," defined as notable or remarkable. Then there's "gripping," used to describe something that holds your attention or is exciting. And don't forget "enthralling," a quite similar term describing something fascinating that awakens interest.

Image: Mick Haupt

Let's leave the adjectives alone for a while. Now it's time for an adverb, those words that serve to highlight the intensity of an adjective or another adverb.

"Very" is one of the most used words in our language; in fact, you might not have even noticed that you've already read it here 3 times before getting to this point. Being so common and frequent, it is normal that we forget to look for a synonym to replace it and get out of the repetition beyond the typical "too," "so," "super," or "really."

"Highly" is a good alternative, and so are other adverbs such as "extremely," "incredibly," or even "remarkably." What others would you add to this list?

Image: Julien L

When it's time to talk about feelings, things can get a bit complicated. It's always helpful to remember a few words for those moments when emotions feel overwhelming or you're just not sure what to say.

If someone did something that made you feel bad, instead of just saying, "I'm mad," you can express yourself with some synonyms that fit your situation better.

For instance, if your neighbor has once again blocked your garage door with his car, you might say you're "annoyed" or "irritated." If that frustration is even higher, you could say, "I'm exasperated!" In another situation, if your friend forgot her boyfriend's birthday and it hurt his feelings, you could think that he might be "offended." Finally, if something got on your nerves and you just couldn't hold back your anger, then the word you might need is "furious!"

Image: Andrew Jenkins

The classic "big" is popular for several good reasons: it is a simple and versatile word that fits into different situations, and it's also easy to get whether you're talking about something literal or using it in a more metaphorical sense.

But we also have a lot of words at our disposal that can fulfill these functions just as well. If you're talking about proportions or size, you can opt for familiar terms like "large" or "huge," or go with some less-used options like "gigantic" or "colossal." And when you want to highlight an important situation, instead of saying, "This is a big step in his life," you could use adjectives like "significant," "serious," or "major" instead!

Image: Alain Moreau

The word "answer" can serve as a verb and a noun, so its synonyms can change based on how it's used in context.

As a verb, you can read it at the beginning of an essay or paper, where the author indicates that they're trying to answer a research question through their work. In this context, it could be replaced by verbs like "solve" or "explain."

On the other hand, if "answer" is employed as a noun and you suddenly get a text that says, "I demand answers!" you might suggest synonyms such as "explanations," "responses," or, depending on the context, "solutions."

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One of the most beautiful words in any language has to be the verb "give," especially for its meaning.

Plus, that word has many synonyms that can fit different situations perfectly. For instance, instead of "giving" answers, you can "provide" them, and instead of "giving" a gift, you can "deliver" it or just "gift" (as a verb). Similarly, when you're ready to give something of yourself to a common cause, you might say "donate" or "contribute."

But there's another, less frequent word you might come across: "regale." It's used when someone is treated to food, drink, or an enjoyable experience. For example, "They regaled their guests with an extravagant meal."

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A good laugh can turn your day around, right? And a funny story is always worth sharing. So, let's see some great synonyms for "funny." Words like "hilarious" and "comical" are perfect. And if the situation has escalated to something extreme, you can opt for "ridiculous" or "absurd." While they're not exact synonyms, they can perfectly describe a humorous episode.

On the other hand, we all know that person who is so funny that everything that comes out of their mouth is taken as a joke. If you want to describe that funny friend more originally, you can try using "amusing" or "witty." What other synonyms would you add?

SOMETIMES WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH

Learn about 12 Ways Animals Communicate with Each Other

Image: Syed Ahmad

From the majestic whales that traverse the ocean depths to the tiny ants orchestrating their complex colonies, animals employ an astonishing array of communication methods to convey information, establish social bonds, and navigate the challenges of their environments.

Whether through intricate dances, melodic songs, chemical signals, or the subtle nuances of body language, the animal kingdom is a vibrant testament to the myriad ways in which creatures express themselves. So join us on a journey into the fascinating world of interspecies communication, where the sounds of nature transcend the boundaries of language as we know it.

Image: David Clode

In the world of animal communication, the dances performed by various species reveal a rich language of expressions and interactions, just like they do with us. Observing bees in their hives, Karl Von Frisch uncovered a phenomenon known as the "waggle dance": upon discovering a food source, the bees returned to the hive and engaged in a dance, with fellow bees touching their abdomens. This dance communicated precise information about the direction and distance of the newfound sustenance.

The world of tiny dancers extends beyond the buzzing bees. For example, the peacock spider taps its legs to attract nearby female spiders. And clark’s grebes engage in a synchronized water ballet when seeking a mate.

Image: Nam Anh

The African elephant and the tarsier represent the extremes of the auditory spectrum. African elephants produce low-frequency vibrations below 20 hertz, imperceptible to the human ear. This method of communication transcends great distances, with an infrasound signal from one elephant reaching another over 175 miles away.

On the opposite end, the tarsier, a tiny primate, emits frequencies exceeding 20,000 Hertz—sounds beyond our hearing range. This high-pitched communication serves the tarsier well in the jungle cacophony, allowing them to exchange vital information about potential threats beyond the reach of predators.

Image: Jonathan Diemel

Cephalopods are masters of the color spectrum. They employ their remarkable ability to change hues for a lot of communicative purposes. Squid and cuttlefish utilize this skill not only to signal their availability for mating but also to assert their territorial dominance or ward off potential threats.

Octopuses, on the other hand, make good use of their color-changing abilities as a camouflage technique and a defensive signal. A sudden shift to white with black accents around their eyes communicates a feeling of vulnerability and a potential readiness to defend.

Image: David Clode

Some fish, like eels, use electricity as their conversational medium. Eels can generate electric fields with a potential of up to one volt, creating a unique form of communication.

Employing specialized electroreceptors, these fish receive signals transmitted through electric waves. Upon reception, the fish deciphers the signal's frequency and waveform, revealing the language encoded within.

Image: Nicole Wreyford

The white rhinoceros creates communal defecation sites called middens. This site acts as a type of rhino message board, as the feces contain all sorts of biological and societal information.

A midden can communicate who rules that specific area. The dominant male rhino will often defecate directly in the middle of the midden and kick around his waist, both to spread his smell around the midden and to get it stuck on his feet so that others can recognize the scent wherever he goes.

Whistles, Growls, and Hums

Image: Amy Reed

Moving into the world of verbal communication, animals showcase an amazing array of vocal prowess. Dholes, the fox-wolf lookalikes, break away from their canid relatives by employing whistles, clucks, and eerie shrieks across their expansive territories of up to 35 square miles.

Silverback gorillas command attention through humming, using it as a bell of sorts to call their group. Similarly, chimps and bonobos prove to be noisy eaters, shedding light on primate social structures through their vocalizations. Yet, prairie dogs steal the show in the complexity of their linguistic skills, using distinct calls to identify approaching predators.

Image: Svetozar Cenisev

Residing exclusively underground, the African demon mole rats have adopted a headbanging strategy to send messages to their fellow mole rats. Thumping their heads against the tunnel ceilings, these rhythmic vibrations travel through the earth, serving as a unique language in the subterranean darkness.

The pace and intensity of these percussive signals become the code of communication, allowing the demon mole rats to convey a range of meanings to their rodent companions. In the depths of the earth, where conventional sound dissipates quickly, these headbangers have found a method both unconventional and effective to transmit vital information.

Image: Vincent van Zalinge

We have been using songs to convey all kinds of emotions, birds are known to use their songs for different purposes too. In a unique mating strategy, the female Peruvian warbling antbird disrupts her partner's harmonious song to thwart potential rivals, turning their love song into a discordant domestic dispute that ensures fidelity in the avian courtship.

Another example of a bird using its song for a curious purpose is the Australian male fairy-wren: despite the threat of butcher birds, the male fairy-wrens exhibit an audacious strategy called "vocal hitchhiking". When a nearby butcher bird issues a call, male fairy-wrens boldly respond, showcasing their bravado to attract the attention of female wrens.

Image: Flavio

The sperm whales engage in a sophisticated language of clicking sounds known as "codas". These acoustic signals serve as a means of conveying information among the whales, creating a complex system akin to regional dialects.

Remarkably, sperm whales in distinct oceanic areas exhibit variations in their clicking patterns, giving rise to unique auditory signatures. Recent findings suggest the possibility of delicate variations not only between different regional groups but potentially within individual clans or even among specific whales.

Image: Tyler Quiring

Ravens communicate with each other through a distinctive form of gesticulation. Much like humans employing hand movements to emphasize points, ravens use their beaks and wings to transmit messages.

In a fascinating display, they show or offer items such as moss, stones, or twigs, often directed towards potential mates. This sign language extends beyond solo performances, with ravens showcasing interactive behaviors like clasping their bills together or collaboratively moving an object.

Image: Jonathan Mast

European bison communicate in a subtle yet powerful form, where their massive frames belie a soft-spoken language. When these herds decide to move, leadership emerges not from a dominant figure but through a communal decision-making process.

Any member of the herd, regardless of age or gender, can initiate the movement by taking a decisive 20 or more steps in a chosen direction without pausing to graze. The others, trusting this directional choice, simply follow suit. In this unique system, the leading individual becomes the de facto leader.

Image: Shashank Hudkar

In southeastern Brazil resides the black-fronted titi, a primate with a sophisticated communication system. Their remarkably dense alarm calls showcase a linguistic prowess uncommon in the animal kingdom.

The black-fronted titi stands out as one of the few species capable of syntax, expertly combining different language units into what can be considered "sentences." Their squeaking calls differentiate between ground- and sky-based threats, with rising pitches signaling the approach of caracaras, and long-legged hawks, while fading calls indicate lurking predatory cats.