Most Commonly Used Synonyms for IELTS

All students applying to international study in the IELTS or TOEFL need to display a certain level of spoken and written English during the application process.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the most demanded test accepted by all foreign universities to check the student’s abilities in using English language for academic purposes.

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A great way to improve your IELTS score is by improving your IELTS vocabulary. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using synonyms for common words. Synonyms are words that are similar or have a related meaning, to another word. They can be lifesavers when you want to avoid repeating the same word over and over.

Synonyms are of great help to get a good score in IELTS along with improving one’s general vocabulary score.

Bear in mind that some synonyms in the list below might not be “perfect” synonyms – there may be slight differences in meaning and connotation.

For example, the words Awful and Bad. Both of them mean “terrible or immoral” but the word bad also means being spoiled or harmful.

Below is a list of most commonly used synonyms for common words which can help a great deal in getting you a good IELTS score.

Amazing – incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary
Anger – enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden
Angry – mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed
Answer – reply, respond, retort, acknowledge
Ask – question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz
Awful – dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant
Bad – evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable
Beautiful – pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling
Begin – start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate
Big – enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous
Brave – courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome
Break – fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize
Bright – shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual
Calm – quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof
Come – approach, advance, near, arrive, reach
Cool – chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid
Crooked – bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag
Cry – shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl
Cut – gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce
Dangerous – perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe
Dark – shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad
Decide – determine, settle, choose, resolve
Definite – certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious
Delicious – savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite
Describe – portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record
Destroy – ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish
Difference – disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility
Do – execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain
Dull – boring, tiring,, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary
Eager – keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to
End – stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance
Enjoy – appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like
Explain – elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for
Fair – just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest
Fall – drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble
False – fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious
Famous – well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious
Fast – quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash
Fat – stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine
Fear – fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension
Fly – soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise
Funny – humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly
Get – acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage
Go – recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed
Good – excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying
Great – noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty
Gross – improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low
Happy – pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed
Hate – despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate
Have – hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy
Help – aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet
Hide – conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil
Hurry – rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle
Hurt – damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain
Idea – thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief
Important – necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known
Interesting – fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing
Keep – hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support
Kill – slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish
Lazy – indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish
Little – tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute
Look – gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore
Love – like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor
Make – create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get
Mark – label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate
Mischievous – prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive
Move – plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge
Moody – temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy
Neat – clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely
New – fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent
Old – feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passé, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct
Part – portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment
Place – space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state
Plan – plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint
Popular – well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current
Predicament – quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam
Put – place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build
Quiet – silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful
Right – correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair
Run – race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee
Say/Tell – inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute
Scared – afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive
Show – display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose
Slow – unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack
Stop – cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit
Story – tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir
Strange – odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular
Take – hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume
Tell – disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat
Think – judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate
Trouble – distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort
True – accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch
Ugly – hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome
Unhappy – miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad
Use – employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise
Wrong – incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable