Synonyms and confusable words 1

Groups of words with similar meanings

Words meaning ‘old’

• I met an old friend the other day.
  It’s a very old building.
• She studied ancient history.
  In ancient times, life was very hard.
• This shop sells antique furniture.
  She collects antique jewellery. [old and valuable]
• I helped an elderly person who was trying to cross the road. [elderly is more polite than old]

Words meaning ‘with no one or nothing else or with nothing similar’

• Donna is a single parent; it’s difficult for her to work full time.
• He lives in a very lonely place/spot up in the mountains.
• At first I felt desperately lonely when I moved from London to the countryside.
• I live alone, but I don’t like travelling alone; it’s nice to be with someone.
• There was just one solitary figure on the otherwise deserted beach. [one person on their own]
• She was the sole survivor of the crash. Everyone else died. [only survivor]
• I am an only child; I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a brother or sister.
• This is a unique occasion, with three past Prime Ministers all together in one room.