Semantic Relations--Synonyms

Synonyms are words which have the same meaning. Of course, this is not completely true. There is almost always some kind of difference between two words. In the diagram at the bottom of this post, speak, say, and tell are synonyms of each other.



What's the Difference Between Hyponyms and Synonyms?

If a word is a hyponym of another word, the relationship is one-sided: all fathers are parents, but not all parents are fathers. All spaniels are dogs, but not all dogs are spaniels. All dogs are canines, but not all canines are dogs (some canines are wolves and foxes). Notice the one-sided arrows pointing up, not down.

A spaniel puppy (Bojan, Dedi Sharabi, Flickr, I-NC, 4177023692_f865b5ee12.jpg)

Serious, relaxed and fluffy wolf, Tambako the Jaguar's photostream, CC-I-ND, Flickr, 5241461648_852c18eafe.jpg

The Lazy Red Fox, Property #1, Flickr, CC-I-NC-ND 3163060196_4d906a5693.jpg

When we deal with synonyms, the relationship is two-sided. Speak, say and tell are synonyms (= they mean basically the same thing). Notice how the arrows are double sided: