Useful Words

The words below were collected by students in response to an assignment to find synonyms for words they used too frequently.

Drug (overused word and has another meaning of "illegal substance")
Use instead: medication (synonym for "drug"). A kind of medicine or remedy. This word avoids confusion and embarrassment over the use of the word "drug".

Joking (overused)
Use instead: Kidding (synonym). Are you kidding? I was just kidding!

Cheat (overused)
Use instead: Deceive (synonym) You like to deceive people, don’t you? The sense of the word "deceive" is to do something behind someone’s back. Cheating on someone is when you go with another person without telling your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Behaviour (overused)
Use instead: Way of behaving; He has an attitude. Your way of behaving is not good.

Perfect (overused)
Use instead: Excellent; beautiful; marvellous; amazing; wonderful; awesome; cool. Pretty can be used to describe a good goal in a game, but not exchanged for "excellent".

Experience (overused)
Use instead: knowledge; understanding; sense; thinking
My thinking is that boys of thirteen don’t often do their chores on time. (I have tasted this before. Metaphor. Compares experience to eating.)

Jury (a legal group of 12 people who meet to decide a matter of law)
Use instead: Committee; panel; commission; organization. (so all these words are groups of people who make decisions)
A panel is a group of specialists who are chosen to make a decision.

Control (overused)
Use instead: Rule; command; dominate.
The King controlled the people with a heavy hand.

Pour. (overused)
Use instead: Tip; sprinkle; empty; spill; flow. (not exactly synonyms)
I pour a cup of coffee. I serve a cup of coffee.
I fill a cup with coffee.
I decant a bottle of wine.
Don’t pour (put) salt all over your food. It is bad for your health!

Help (overused)
Use instead: Assist; support; aid.
This dictionary will help (assist you; aid you) to improve your understanding of English.