(As we consider these times—and pray about them—our words can help shape our own and others’ spirits for what we face each day. Our thoughts may grow more intriguing as we increase the variety of our words—sparking listeners/readers’ interest. Today I offer some familiar terms that may enrich your communications, and add *synonyms that might color your conversations and writing with especially attractive nuances.)
Generous—great-souled, magnanimous, benevolent, public-spirited, sublime, heroic.
Ability—fitness, talent, caliber, competence, sufficiency, efficacy, the goods, what it takes.
Honest—righteous, blameless, pure, morally strong, worthy, noble, playing by the rules, uncorrupt, manly, Christian, beyond reproach, unsullied, honorable, right.
Narcissistic—self-advertising, self-sufficient, graspy, acquisitive, know-it-all, peacock, braggart.
Empathic—sensitive, like-minded, understanding, congenial, compatible, peaceful, harmonious, in tune, amicable, together, congruent.
Wise—knowledgeable, aware, mindful, sensible, intelligent, shrewd, insightful, understanding, apprehensive.
Trust—credit, believe, accept, receive, put faith in, buy into, take as gospel truth, attach weight to, take to heart, swallow, be certain.
Grift—swindle, dodge, racket, cheating, wile, scheme, gimmick, ploy, gambit, feint, deceit, subterfuge, knavery.
Hope—expect, anticipate, face, contemplate, envision, presume, look for, take the long view, plan, extrapolate, approach, draw near to.
Wretchedness—bitterness, infelicity, anguish, woe, slough of despond, sloth.
Tyrant—usurper, oppressor, tin god, martinet, despot, warlord, autocrat, oligarch
Addictive—alluring, enticing, stimulative, provocative, rousing, galvanizing, buzzworthy.
Alleluia—cheer, yippee, hosanna, shout-out, high-five, fist bump.
Mourn—lament, moan, weep for, deplore, elegize, sing the blues, rue, sigh.
Public servant—office holder, minister, bureaucrat, elder, legislator, supervisor, civil servant, politician.
Citizen—immigrant, national, compatriot, citizen of the world, subject, naturalized citizen. Unify—make one, identify, join, combine, meld, fuse together, synthesize, yoke, link, assimilate, integrate, roll into one, come together, mix, blend, encompass, include, reembody, consolidate, solidify.
Calm—stabilize, appease, quell, ease, smooth down, keep the peace, soothe, gentle, cradle, compose, hush, quiet, rest, cool.
Vote—choose, elect, participate, involve oneself, join, sign on, enlist, have a voice in, help decide, answer the call, be implicated in, make oneself part of, get in the act.
And so you don’t forget, one more thing: The Bible is a dependable place to find good thoughts—it’s filled with good words…!
*The material for this entry comes from Roget’s International Thesaurus, 8th Edition, Copyright ©2019, 2022, HarperCollins Publishers.
(To receive these entries when they are posted, go to the upper right-hand corner of the top banner and click on the three dots or parallel lines. Scroll down to the subscription form and enter your information.)