CCC Synonyms-2007 Jan-Mar

CLOSE SYNONYMS OF THE WEEK

2007

January-March
(most recent first)

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MARCH 26, 2007

ALMOST / VIRTUALLY

ALMOST (adv)—close but not quite, not exactly, or not yet

VIRTUALLY (adv)—in effect, though not in reality

Note that, in the sense of ‘close but not quite/exact’, ALMOST and VIRTUALLY may be interchangeable.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

My house is so close to the ocean, I can almost hear the seagulls--if it were just a bit closer, I could.

My house is so close to the ocean, I can virtually hear the seagulls, as though they're in my living room.

MARCH 19, 2007

ILLUSION / ALLUSION

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

ILLUSION (noun)—something that appears to exist or to be so, but in reality does not exist or is not so
ILLUSORY—adj; ILLUSIONIST—noun, ILLUSIONISM—noun

ALLUSION (noun)—an indirect reference suggesting an implied similarity
ALLUSIVE—adj; ALLUDE, verb

Note that it is a change in prefix that alters the meaning.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

She’s under the illusion that she’ll be promoted, but I know the manager is going to choose someone else.

The event described took place in the past, but it’s an obvious allusion to the present situation.

MARCH 12, 2007

DEGENERATION / DEGENERACY

DEGENERATION (noun)—worsening of the physical, mental or moral state (opposite of GENERATION)

DEGENERACY (noun)—decline into a state of corruption and depravity

Note that DEGENERACY is sometimes unhelpfully used to mean the same thing as DEGENERATION; noting also that it is a change in suffix that marks the difference between them.

Related forms:

DEGENERATE (noun/adj/verb—the verb pronounced with a ‘long A’)
DEGENERATIVE (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Various film critics have been voicing the complaint that the presentation of the big annual awards has degenerated to the point of simply being a vehicle for movie industry marketing. Some going so far as to castigate studios, filmmakers and actors alike for contributing to the overall degeneracy of contemporary American culture.

MARCH 5, 2007

FANTASTIC / FANTASTICAL / PHANTASMAGORIC

FANTASTIC (adj)—original meaning: existing only in fantasy; colloquial meaning: exceptionally good or a lot

FANTASTICAL (adj)—apparently impossible, existing only in fantasy

PHANTASMAGORIC (adj)—illusory; dreamlike

Note that this very useful distinction between FANTASTIC and FANTASTICAL will not necessarily be found in standard dictionaries, which tend to list them as simple variants of the same meaning. Note too that PHANTASMAGORIC is spelled with a PH.

Related forms:

FANTASY (noun)
FANTASIA (noun)
FANTASIST (noun)
FANTASIZE (verb)
FANTASTICALLY (adv)
FANCY (as a noun)
FANCIFUL (adj)

PHANTOM (noun)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Her performance in the play was fantastic—the best yet. Though the tickets were fantastically expensive.

Information published by totalitarian governments, for which experts are not able to confirm the data, is often considered fantastical by the international community.

Hieronymus Bosch was a 15th century painter whose phantasmagoric images are sometimes compared to bad dreams.

FEBRUARY 26, 2007

REACTIVE / REACTIONARY

REACTIVE (adj)—responding to a stimulus

REACTIONARY (adj/noun)—adhering to a political or social ideology or methodology of the past, resistant to progressive change; one who favors such a policy (Note: typically used by those with progressive views as a criticism of their adversaries.)

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

Related forms:

REACT (verb)
REACTIVATE (verb)
REACTION (noun)
REACTOR (noun)
REACTANT (noun)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

In Pilates exercise, all movements originate in the core abdominal muscles—movement in the limbs is just reactive.

There is considerable complaint among progressive people that, due to reactionary tendencies in the present administration, scientific research in the US has been restricted.

FEBRUARY 19, 2007

PRESIDENT / PRECEDENT

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

PRESIDENT (noun)—the highest position in a political, social or economic organization; the person holding such a position
PRESIDENTIAL—adj; PRESIDE—verb; PRESIDENCY—noun

PRECEDENT (noun)—an established act or practice serving as an example for similar incidences in the future
PRECEDENTIAL—adj, PRECEDING—adj; PRECEDE—verb; PRECEDENCE—noun

Note that these two words are distinguished by a slight change in pronunciation as well as in spelling: PRESIDENT pronounced with a ‘hard S’ (as in zoo); PRECEDENT pronounced with a soft S’ (as in soon).

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Today is Presidents’ Day, but not everyone has the day off from work.

There is no precedent for this procedure and, since it has indeed never been done before, we’ll have to figure it out as we go.

FEBRUARY 12, 2007

HONORABLE / HONORED / HONORARY

HONORABLE (adj)—having worthy principles or ethics, worthy of respect or recognition (Note that HONORABLE is usually not used in reference to oneself.)

HONORED (adj)—being the recipient of respect or recognition

HONORARY (adj)—acknowledged for an achievement without having fulfilled the customary official requirements

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

Related forms:

HONOR (noun/verb)
HONOREE (noun)
HONORARIUM (noun)
HONORIFIC (noun)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Teaching is one of the oldest and most honorable professions.

I was very happy to be invited to the conference, and especially honored to be asked to speak.

He had little formal education, but was awarded an honorary PhD for his contributions to the field.

FEBRUARY 5, 2007

PRINCIPAL / PRINCIPLE

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

PRINCIPAL (noun/adj)—first, main, most important or highest ranked person or thing; amount of money initially borrowed or invested; the person in charge (typically of a school)
PRINCIPALLY—adv

PRINCIPLE (noun)—a standard or basic tenet of ethical or moral conviction or operational procedure
PRINCIPLED—adj

Note that it is a slight change in spelling that alters the meaning. Note too that only PRINCIPAL can be used as an adjective. Although these words are pronounced exactly the same, they have no meanings in common.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The principal of the school is the principal witness in the assault case.

She is known for her exceptional integrity and is a very principled person. Indeed, she says she considers a person’s principles to be the most reliable indicator of character.

JANUARY 29, 2007

DELIBERATENESS / DELIBERATION

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

DELIBERATENESS (noun)—the quality of being deliberate, of being intentional

DELIBERATION (noun)—long and thoughtful consideration; slowness in considering or doing something

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

Related forms:

DELIBERATE (verb/adj—note difference in pronunciation: ‘long A’ for verb, ‘short A’ for adj)
DELIBERATELY (adv)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

At first she was undecided, but when she made up her mind, she acted with marked deliberateness.

He is a very careful person, never deciding things rashly, always acting with considerable deliberation.

JANUARY 22, 2007

COMMON (adj)

Though most words in English have only one general meaning, there are many that have distinct and separate applications—including related or extended meanings or entirely unrelated usages. This series highlights a few of the more common and confusing of such words. The following is an example.

COMMON 1—everyday, ordinary, widely found

COMMON 2—shared

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

1. French is a common European language in the world, spoken in many countries outside of France—unlike Hawaiian, which is confined to a small group of islands and spoken by relatively few people.

2. The capital of France is Paris; the country has three major rivers and two mountain ranges, and (though Arabic and other languages may be spoken in some cities) French is the common language.

Note the use of the indefinite article (a) in sentence 1, and the definite article (the) in sentence 2.

JANUARY 15, 2007

NEGRO / AFRICAN-AMERICAN / BLACK / (COLORED)

This edition is a bit of a departure from the usual, in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday.

NEGRO

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

BLACK

(COLORED)

Related synonyms/ expressions:

CREOLE (African-Americans of French descent in the southern US, especially Louisiana)

MULATTO (persons of Black African origin with lighter skin and/or more Caucasian facial features)

PERSONS OF COLOR (refers to non-Caucasians in general)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

These days, Americans of all races tend to use the terms African-American and Black when referring to persons of the so-called Negroid race. The term Negro was used by African-American activists in the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century, but tends not to be used much nowadays (except proprietarily within the Black community) since its scientific definition is considered ambiguous. The term ‘colored’, associated with the shameful racial discrimination typical of the American south in the past, is never used by respectful people any more.

JANUARY 8, 2007

AFRAID / INTIMIDATED

AFRAID (adj)—frightened about something suggesting harm (Note that AFRAID has other meanings and usages)

INTIMIDATED (adj)—frightened about something suggesting threat

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Don’t be afraid of him, although he’s a big guy he’s really quite gentle.

Don’t be intimidated by him—he tries to boss people around, but he’s not the boss and has no real power.

Note that different prepositions (for example, ‘of’ and ‘by’ in the sentences above) may be required.

JANUARY 1, 2007

NEW

For a bit of a departure from the usual, in honor of the New Year holiday, this edition focuses on various prefixes/adjectives meaning new.

NEO
NOUVEAU
NOUVELLE

Note that these terms may or may not take a hyphen depending on their relationship with the word they are connected to or modifying.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Neoconservatives have become such a force in recent American politics, that they have generated their own neologism: neocon.

When people acquire a lot of money before acquiring the education or culture to know how to spend it with discernment, they are often called nouveau riche (typically in a derisive tone of voice). (Note that riche is spelled—and pronounced—as it is in the original French.)

Nouvelle cuisine generally refers to food that is fresh, lighter in fat content, smaller in serving size, and presented nicely on the plate.