CCC Synonyms-2005 Jan-Mar

CLOSE SYNONYMS OF THE WEEK

2005

January-March
(most recent first)

MARCH 28, 2005

FINANCE / FINANCES / FINANCIAL

FINANCE(noun/verb)—concerning (the managing of) monetary resources / to provide the monetary resources for something

FINANCES (noun)—the overall monetary resources of an individual, organization or company

FINANCIAL(adj)—relating to FINANCE

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the word.

Related forms:

FINANCIALLY (adv)
FINANCIALS (plural noun)
FINANCIER (noun)
FINANCING (gerund)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

She is interested in studying finance, but doesn’t know how she will finance her studies.

Financiers typically own and control considerable wealth, while financial planners just manage the finances of others.

They’ve got a great idea for a start-up and are looking for financing.

MARCH 21, 2005

MONEY / MONIES / MONETARY

MONEY(noun)—currency used as a medium of exchange (Note: takes singular verb)

MONIES(noun)—plural of MONEY (Note: takes plural verb)

MONETARY(adj)—relating to MONEY

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the word.

Related forms:

MONETARILY (adv)
MONEYED or MONIED (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

It is obvious to the point of cliché that simply having money doesn’t make a person happy—moneyed individuals can easily be found among the most miserable people in the world.

The expected monies, the amount of which varies with each contributor, have not yet been paid.

There is considerable debate as to the true value of Chinese money, with several trading partners calling for re-evaluation of the yuan. However, though some adjustment is promised for the future, PRC monetary policy so far remains unchanged.

MARCH 14, 2005

AKIN / RELATED TO / RELATIVE TO

AKIN(adj)—similar or related to something else

RELATED (adj)—connected to or associated with something else, having a common origin, belonging to the same family

RELATIVE (adj)—in comparison to or dependent upon something else; having changeable value, proportion, impact, description or meaning in comparison to something else (Note: RELATIVE is also a noun)

Note that AKIN and RELATED are frequently interchangeable. Note too that all three are typically used with the preposition ‘to’—see sentences below.)

Related forms:

KIN (noun)

RELATE (verb)
RELATEDNESS (noun)
RELATIVELY (adv)
RELATIONSHIP (noun)
RELATIONAL (adj)
RELATIVITY (noun)
RELATIVISM (noun)
RELATIVIST (noun)
[and more]

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The style known as ‘Art Deco’ is akin to ‘Art Nouveau.’

The style known as ‘Art Deco’ is related to ‘Art Nouveau.’

Relative to ‘Art Nouveau,’ ‘Art Deco’ tends to be more geometric.

MARCH 7, 2005

ELECTRIC / ELECTRICAL / ELECTRONIC

ELECTRIC(adj)—related to or powered by electricity; also used figuratively to mean highly charged or exciting

ELECTRICAL(adj)—pertaining to electricity

ELECTRONIC(adj)—technical definition: relating to electrons; more commonly denoting electrical devices or media

(Note that ELECTRONICS—as a singular noun—refers to the entire field of electronic technology. As a plural noun, ELECTRONICS refers to electronic equipment in general or the electronic components of a device.)

Note too that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning.

Related forms:

ELECTRICITY (noun)
ELECTRICIAN (noun)
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (noun)
ELECTRIFY (verb)
ELECTRON (noun)
ELECTRODE (noun)
ELECTROCUTE (verb)
ELECTROLYSIS (noun)
ELECTROLYSIST (noun)
ELECTRO- (prefix)
[and many more]

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

We can’t decide whether to buy a gas stove or an electric stove.

It was a great concert, the atmosphere in the auditorium was electric.

The electrical wiring in the house needs to be redone.

These days, electronic gadgets have increasingly more functionality, yet are smaller and often cheaper as well.

FEBRUARY 28, 2005

ADMINISTER / ADMINISTRATE

ADMINISTER(verb)— to oversee or manage the affairs of a business or organization or a person’s affairs or estate; to give someone medication; to preside over someone’s taking an oath (Note that ADMINISTER has a few other meanings in addition to these.)

ADMINISTRATE(verb)— to oversee or manage the affairs of a business or organization or a person’s affairs or estate

Note that ADMINISTER has several meanings (including that of ADMINISTRATE), but ADMINISTRATE has only one meaning. Note too that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning.

Related forms:

ADMINISTRATION (noun)
ADMINISTRATOR (noun)
ADMINISTRATIVE (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

This patient’s medications have to be administered three times a day.

The oath of office was administered by his predecessor.

She’s been called in to administrate the company’s newly created subsidiary.

FEBRUARY 21, 2005

earth / Earth

This edition focuses on some CLOSE HOMONYMS: words that are the same or similar in sound but not necessarily the same in meaning.

earth(noun)—soil, gravel, dirt, ground

Earth(proper noun)—third planet from the sun

Note that it is simply the capitalization of the first letter that alters the meaning.

Related forms:

earthy (adj)—of the soil, soulful, crude
earthly (adj)—pertaining to soil
Earthly (proper adj)—pertaining to the planet
unearth (verb)—to dig up, to discover

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Deforestation removes so many trees that nothing is left to hold the earth in place, creating soil erosion.

The third planet from the sun is Earth, affording ideal conditions for an Earthly paradise for human life.

FEBRUARY 14, 2005

CAPITAL / CAPITOL

This edition focuses on some CLOSE HOMONYMS: words that are the same or similar in sound but not necessarily the same in meaning.

CAPITAL(noun)—the seat of government of a country (state or province)—refers to the city (Note that CAPITAL has many additional meanings as a noun, an adjective and [with added suffix] a verb—see next paragraph as an example.)

CAPITOL(noun)— the administrative center of a CAPITAL—refers to the building (Note that when the ‘C’ is capitalized—as in Capitol—it refers to the building in Washington D.C. where the U.S. Congress meets.)

Note too that it is only a slight change in spelling (and/or capitalization) that alters the meaning. These distinctions may be of questionable utility, but they exist nevertheless.

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

The current administration in the capital [of the country/state/province] has decided to restore the capitol [building] to its original architecture, which was modeled on the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

FEBRUARY 7, 2005

LEAVE (verb) / LEAVE FOR (verb + preposition)

International speakers of English are often confused by ‘phrasal verbs’ (verbs + prepositions that add to or alter the meaning of the verb), and for good reason—phrasal verbs can often be confusing. The following is an example of what a difference a preposition can make.

LEAVE—to depart from a place, to go away

LEAVE FOR—to go to a place, to set forth (Note: Not to be confused with usages like “He is LEAVING for no reason.”)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

I’m about to leave the office. [to go away from the office]

I’m about to leave for the office. [to go to the office]

I left the office in time to meet the new client. [at another location]

I left for the office in time to meet the new client. [at the office]

JANUARY 31, 2005

APOLOGY / APOLOGIST

For a bit of a departure from the usual, this edition focuses on two forms of the same word that have contradictory meanings.

APOLOGY (noun)—an expression of regret (secondary meaning: an inferior example of something)

APOLOGIST(noun)—one who argues in defense or justification of an ideology, position or action

Note: An APOLOGIST is not apologizing in the sense of expressing regret about anything (as in APOLOGY)—on the contrary. Though it’s a somewhat awkward usage, one who APOLOGIZES (expressing regret) is an APOLOGIZER. Note too that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning.

Related forms:

APOLOGIA (noun/formal)
APOLOGETIC (adj)
APOLOGETICALLY (adv)
APOLOGIZE (verb)

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

It’s bad enough the public was misinformed about the situation—now, hearing the apologists justifying the failed course of action (when they should be apologizing for it) adds insult to injury.

JANUARY 24, 2005

CAREER / CAREEN

CAREER(verb)—to rush forward or lurch (not to be confused with CAREER used as a noun—an occupation or long-term interest)

CAREEN(verb)—to lurch, swerve or tip over at high speed

Note that despite the technical difference, these words, used as verbs, have come to be interchangeable.

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

When the brakes failed going downhill, it was impossible to keep the car from careering/careening out of control.

JANUARY 17, 2005

MAJORITY / PLURALITY

MAJORITY(noun)—most of the things or people in a group, more than half
MAJORITARIAN—adj; MAJORITARIANISM—noun

PLURALITY(noun)—an amount that is larger than any other amount within a total, but not more than half
PLURAL—noun/adj, PLURALISM—noun; PLURALIZE—verb; PLURALISTIC—adj; PLURALISTICALLY—adv

Note: These two words are technically not synonyms at all, but they often tend to be confused—especially since PLURALITY is sometimes used to mean ‘MAJORITY’ or even simply ‘a great quantity of something’. Note also that both words have usages additional to those noted here.

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

He got 49 out of 100 votes, constituting a plurality (his rivals getting 26 and 25 votes respectively), just 2 short of a majority.

JANUARY 10, 2005

FAMOUS / INFAMOUS

This edition focuses on some CLOSE HOMONYMS: words that are the same or similar in sound but not necessarily the same in meaning.

FAMOUS(adj)—widely known or recognized (for an exceptional characteristic or accomplishment)
FAMOUSLY—adv; FAME—noun

INFAMOUS(adj)—famous in a negative way earning a bad reputation, notorious
INFAMOUSLY—adv; INFAMY—noun

Note: In the case of INFAMOUS, the negative prefix ‘in’ does not have the typical effect of creating the opposite meaning (‘not famous’). Note too that syllable stress is on the first syllable (the prefix).

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

That author is famous for her knowledge of the subject, but infamous for the unprofessional means by which she often gets her information.

JANUARY 3, 2005

THAW / MELT

THAW (verb)—to become less cold (or less stiff from cold), to defrost

MELT (verb)—to change from a solid to a liquid state as a result of being heated, to dissolve

Note: These words have similar meaning but are used in different contexts. For example, frozen meat THAWS, ice cubes MELT; ice cream may THAW if it is frozen solid, but without refrigeration it will proceed to MELT. Note also that both words can be used figuratively (see sentences below). Both words also function as nouns.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

There is said to be an annual warming trend in northern California called ‘January thaw’—but is it a meteorological fact or just wishful thinking?

Their relations have begun to thaw a bit—not as unfriendly as before.

Scientists studying climate change are particularly interested in recent increases in the melting of polar ice.

The baby is so sweet, your heart will melt when you see him.