Learn exactly when you can and cannot swap 30 academic synonym pairs.
Important: Words are only synonyms in specific contexts. Each card shows you a correct use and an incorrect use so you learn the difference, not just the word.
30 synonym pairs
Pair 01
general
Answer → Response
✓ There was no answer / response to my call.
✗ ould you please response the phone?
Answer the phone is a fixed collocation.
Pair 02
verb pair
Become worse → Deteriorate
✓ The political situation has deteriorated rapidly.
✗ My fever is deteriorating.
Deteriorate means worsening of a situation, not a symptom improving.
Pair 03
general
Benefit → Merit
✓ There are many advantages / benefits of attending university.
✗ The government should provide unemployment merits to those out of work.
Merits = achievements/qualities, not financial support)
Pair 04
adj / adv
Basic → Fundamental
✓ A fundamental understanding of grammar is helpful.
✗ All the music they like is so fundamental.
Basic can mean boring in informal use; fundamental cannot.
Pair 05
verb pair
Build → Construct
✓ High-rise buildings are being constructed in city centres.
✗ She has constructed a good reputation.
Build a reputation is a fixed collocation — construct does not work here.
Pair 06
verb pair
Buy → Purchase
✓ It is illegal to buy / purchase a gun in Britain.
✗ We can purchase some time to finish the project.
Buy time is an idiom — purchase cannot replace it.
Pair 07
verb pair
Change → Alter
✓ Buying a car can alter your lifestyle significantly.
✗ Now I have altered my mind about it.
Change your mind is a fixed collocation.
Pair 08
verb pair
Choose → Select
✓ It is difficult to select which employees to promote.
✗ Why did you select to live in London?
Select implies choosing from a defined list of options.
Pair 09
verb pair
Combine → Integrate
✓ You need to integrate exercise into your daily routine.
✗ The two countries integrated against their enemy.
Integrate = become one; combine = work together.
Pair 10
verb pair
Communicate → Interact
✓ Children spend more time interacting with teachers than parents.
✗ Teachers must interact their ideas clearly.
Communicate = convey or explain; interact = engage with.
Pair 11
verb pair
Continue → Maintain
✓ Messaging services help families maintain communication.
✗ After a drink, they maintained on their way home.
Continue = return to something; maintain = keep going without interruption.
Pair 12
verb pair
Develop → Evolve
✓ Most languages are constantly evolving.
✗ This exercise will evolve your back muscles.
Develop = make stronger; evolve = change gradually over time.
Pair 13
adj / adv
Enough → Sufficient
✓ Most people lack sufficient savings to survive a year without work.
✗ That is sufficient, Peter — give it back.
That is enough is idiomatic; sufficient is too formal in that context.
Pair 14
verb pair
Find → Locate
✓ Police are still trying to locate the suspect.
✗ The company found its headquarters in Beijing.
Locate = choose a place to be; find = discover.
Pair 15
verb pair
Get → Acquire
✓ Companies spend millions to acquire new customers.
✗ I acquired a phone call from the police.
Get a call = receive; acquire implies gaining something of value.
Pair 16
verb pair
Give out → Distribute
✓ Schools should distribute free stationery at the start of term.
✗ At the end of the race his legs distributed.
Give out = stop working — distribute cannot replace this idiom.
Pair 17
verb pair
Go forward → Proceed
✓ It is important that we proceed with the plan despite delays.
✗ The go-forwards from the event went to charity.
Proceeds (noun) = money raised; not interchangeable with go forward.
Pair 18
verb pair
Help → Assist
✓ Counsellors should assist students with academic problems.
✗ Aspirin will assist with the pain.
Help with pain = lessen it; assist suggests active support, not relief.
Pair 19
verb pair
Keep → Retain
✓ Governments should incentivise companies to retain staff.
✗ I intend to retain my promise.
Keep a promise is a fixed collocation — retain does not work.
Pair 20
formal upgrade
Leave out → Exclude
✓ A trade deal that excludes emerging economies misses opportunities.
✗ You can exclude the butter if you are on a low-fat diet.
Exclude is too formal for everyday or cooking contexts.
Pair 21
formal upgrade
Look for → Seek
✓ The government is seeking ways to reduce healthcare costs.
✗ I will seek a present at the shopping centre.
Seek is formal; in everyday contexts look for is more natural.
Pair 22
formal upgrade
Make possible → Enable
✓ Automation will enable us to cut costs significantly.
✗ Make sure to enable your computer firewall.
Enable in technology = turn on; not a synonym for make possible there.
Pair 23
formal upgrade
Make sure → Ensure
✓ The role of the police is to ensure the law is upheld.
✗ Ensure to tell them I said hello.
Ensure is formal and used for important outcomes, not casual requests.
Pair 24
verb pair
Move → Transfer
✓ Transferring to a different department is a way to get promoted.
✗ I am so cold I cannot transfer my fingers.
Transfer = move formally from place to place; not for bodily movement.
Pair 25
formal upgrade
Need → Require
✓ People below the poverty line require government assistance.
✗ I require to do some shopping on the way home.
Require is used with objects, not followed by to + verb.
Pair 26
verb pair
Replace → Substitute
✓ No academic study can substitute real experience.
✗ I promise to substitute the plate I dropped.
Replace = restore what was lost; substitute = swap for something else.
Pair 27
formal upgrade
Set up → Establish
✓ The brand Nike was established in 1964.
✗ His friends established him with a blind date.
Set up (arrange a date) is an idiom — establish cannot replace it.
Pair 28
verb pair
Show → Demonstrate
✓ Research has demonstrated that babies recognise their mother’s voice.
✗ Let me demonstrate you this new book.
Demonstrate requires a direct object relating to proof or evidence.
Pair 29
formal upgrade
Speak to → Converse with
✓ Teenagers often spend hours conversing with their friends by phone.
✗ Would you mind conversing more slowly, please?
Converse implies a two-way exchange; speak refers to the act of talking.
Pair 30
formal upgrade
Take part → Participate
✓ Children should be encouraged to participate in school games.
✗ She participated of her savings and invested it.
Take part of is not valid — participate cannot replace it here.
3 strategies to learn synonyms
Strategy 01
Write IELTS introductions
Introductions require paraphrasing — which forces synonym use. Take any Task 2 question and rewrite it without copying a single word. Repeat daily.
Strategy 02
Read model essays and circle synonyms
Read essays written by teachers or high-level students. Circle every synonym you spot. This teaches context — the most important part of vocabulary learning.
Strategy 03
Ask your teacher in every lesson
Every time you see a new word, ask: what are the synonyms for this? Over time, this habit builds a rich, context-aware vocabulary bank.
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