Synonyms in IELTS speaking and writing

Synonyms in IELTS speaking and writing

1. Expressing Opinions

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
I believe	I think, I feel, In my view	I believe education is the key to progress.
In my opinion	From my perspective, As I see it	In my opinion, travel broadens the mind.
I would argue	I maintain, I contend	I would argue that exercise is essential for health.
It seems to me	It appears to me	It seems to me that technology improves learning.
I’m convinced	I’m certain, I’m sure	I’m convinced that early education benefits children.

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2. Expressing Contrast

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
However	Nevertheless, Nonetheless	I like coffee; however, I avoid drinking it late.
On the other hand	Conversely	On the other hand, some people prefer studying online.
Although	Even though, Though	Although it is expensive, many people buy electric cars.
Whereas	While	Cats are independent, whereas dogs need more attention.
Despite	In spite of	Despite the rain, we went hiking.

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3. Expressing Cause & Effect

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Therefore	Thus, As a result	He missed the train; therefore, he was late.
Consequently	As a consequence, Hence	She didn’t study; consequently, she failed the test.
Because of	Due to, Owing to	The match was canceled because of rain.
Lead to	Result in, Cause	Poor diet can lead to health problems.
Since	As, Because	Since it was raining, we stayed indoors.

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4. Adding Information

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Moreover	Furthermore, In addition	The city is beautiful; moreover, it is safe.
In addition	Additionally, Also	In addition to studying, he works part-time.
Besides	As well as	Besides English, she speaks French.
Not only… but also	Also, As well as	Not only is he talented, but he is also hardworking.
Likewise	Similarly, Equally	Likewise, students benefit from practical lessons.

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5. Expressing Frequency

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Often	Frequently, Regularly	I often go jogging in the morning.
Occasionally	Sometimes, At times	I occasionally watch TV after work.
Rarely	Seldom, Hardly ever	I rarely eat fast food.
Usually	Generally, Normally	I usually wake up at 6 a.m.
Always	Constantly, Consistently	She always completes her homework on time.

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6. Expressing Degree

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Very	Extremely, Highly	She is very intelligent.
Quite	Fairly, Rather	The movie was quite interesting.
Extremely	Exceptionally, Highly	The weather is extremely cold today.
Significantly	Considerably, Substantially	Pollution has significantly increased over the years.
Slightly	A little, Marginally	The price has slightly decreased.

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7. Describing People

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Friendly	Amiable, Kind, Approachable	My neighbor is very friendly.
Hardworking	Diligent, Industrious	He is a hardworking student.
Generous	Kind-hearted, Charitable	She is generous and often donates money.
Intelligent	Smart, Clever, Bright	He is an intelligent young man.
Creative	Imaginative, Innovative	She is creative and enjoys painting.

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8. Describing Places

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Beautiful	Attractive, Lovely	The park is beautiful.
Spacious	Roomy, Wide	The house is spacious.
Crowded	Packed, Busy	The market is crowded during festivals.
Peaceful	Calm, Quiet	I like visiting peaceful places.
Modern	Contemporary, Up-to-date	Seoul is a modern city with advanced technology.

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9. Describing Objects

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Useful	Helpful, Practical	A smartphone is very useful.
Expensive	Costly, Pricey	That bag is expensive.
Cheap	Affordable, Inexpensive	Street food is cheap and tasty.
Durable	Long-lasting, Strong	Wooden furniture is durable.
Innovative	Original, Advanced	The new device is highly innovative.

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10. Expressing Preferences

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Prefer	Like better, Favor	I prefer tea over coffee.
Would rather	Choose, Opt for	I would rather stay home tonight.
Enjoy	Like, Appreciate	I enjoy reading novels.
Love	Adore, Like very much	I love traveling to new countries.
Interested in	Fascinated by, Keen on	I am interested in learning languages.

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11. Linking Ideas

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
For example	For instance, Such as	I enjoy outdoor activities, for example, hiking and cycling.
In other words	That is to say	He is frugal; in other words, he doesn’t spend much money.
To illustrate	For example, As an illustration	To illustrate, many students study abroad to gain experience.
Specifically	Particularly, Especially	I like spicy food, specifically Indian curry.
As a result	Consequently, Therefore	He studied hard; as a result, he passed the exam.

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12. Expressing Agreement

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
I agree	I concur, I’m in favor	I agree that exercise is important.
Absolutely	Definitely, Certainly	Absolutely, technology has improved communication.
Exactly	Precisely, Totally	Exactly, healthy eating is essential.
That’s true	That’s correct, Indeed	That’s true; pollution is a serious problem.
I share this view	I feel the same, I think likewise	I share this view about renewable energy.

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13. Expressing Disagreement

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
I disagree	I differ, I oppose	I disagree with the idea that money brings happiness.
Not necessarily	Not always	That’s not necessarily true; some people enjoy minimalism.
On the contrary	Conversely	On the contrary, some students prefer online learning.
I’m not sure about that	I doubt it, I question it	I’m not sure about that; technology has pros and cons.
I see it differently	I have a different view	I see it differently; traveling can be stressful sometimes.

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14. Expressing Advantages

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Benefit	Advantage, Gain	Online education has many benefits.
Positive aspect	Strength, Merit	One positive aspect of exercise is improved health.
Useful	Helpful, Valuable	Reading books is useful for knowledge.
Contribute to	Aid, Assist	Volunteering contributes to society.
Lead to	Result in, Promote	Healthy habits lead to a longer life.

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15. Expressing Disadvantages

Word/Phrase	Synonyms	Example/Notes
Drawback	Disadvantage, Downside	One drawback of online classes is lack of interaction.
Negative aspect	Weakness, Shortcoming	A negative aspect of city life is pollution.
Problem	Issue, Difficulty	Traffic congestion is a major problem in cities.
Cause	Lead to, Result in	Overuse of technology can cause eye strain.
Limit	Restriction, Constraint	Lack of experience can limit career opportunities.