Even more synonyms—not!
Which sentences are correct?
- That comedian is hilarious.
- That comedian is hysterical.
- She’s envious of her sister’s beauty.
- She’s jealous of her sister’s beauty.
- I’ve stayed home because I’ve been sick.
- I’ve stayed home since I’ve been sick.
- Because the market is closed, let’s order takeout.
- Since the market is closed, let’s order takeout.
- The children anxiously awaited Christmas morning.
- The children eagerly awaited Christmas morning.
The correct sentences are A, C, E, H, and J.
Why?
The word hilarious describes someone or something that is extremely funny. For example, “The ‘Vitameatavegamin’ episode of I Love Lucy is hilarious!” By contrast, the term hysterical describes someone that is extremely emotional. For example, “Lucy frequently became hysterical, dissolving into tears.”
We are envious of what others have. We are jealous of our own belongings. Envy is a desire for what you lack, while jealousy is a fear of losing what you have. For example, a “jealous boyfriend” is fearful of losing his girl. We also commonly use “jealous” when we really mean “envious.”
The words because and since are commonly confused. Because means “due to” and precedes a reason or an explanation. Since has two definitions. It can mean “from or after a time in the past.” For example, “I’ve been a fan since the band’s first album.” Since also can mean “due to” when it precedes an already established reason. In this case, the emphasis is on the solution or result. Sentence H, above, is a good example. In sentence G, the use of because shifts the emphasis to the reason instead.
Using since in place of because can result in ambiguity, with two possible interpretations. Take sentence F. Did I stay home as a result of being sick or from the time that I became sick? Who knows?
But look again at sentence H. There is no room for misinterpretation; the meaning is clear. Before deciding to use since, check if the meaning is uncertain. If it is, choose because instead.
Anxiously means “with extreme unease, worry, or fear,” while eagerly means “with enthusiasm.” Both terms describe the anticipation of an event, but anxiously conveys nervousness and stress over the outcome. For example, “The dad-to-be anxiously paced the waiting room.”
While each pair of words may have similar or overlapping meanings, they are not synonyms. Learn the subtle distinctions between the terms so you can convey your thoughts cleanly, clearly, and confidently.
