Does anyone know a word in the English Language that does not have a synonym?

Question

^^

Answer 1

There seems to be some confusion about what a synonym IS and/or what it DOES.

There is some flexibility in the term. Sometimes it refers to a word whose meaning (at least in a particular context) if very nearly identical to another word's. But in other instances the meaning of the specific words may be a bit more distant.

The real point of "synonyms" is that you CAN "say the same thing with different words". This is almost ALWAYS possible, even if the substituted words are not as precise. Looked at that way, I don't know that you could EVER say, "there's no synonym for this word".

On the other hand, if you are very narrow in your definition --and demand EXACT equivalence-- then in a sense you might say there is no such thing as a synonym! For in fact, NO two words are COMPLETELY interchangeable

Consider the word already mentioned -- "apple". There are several contexts in which you can easily make a substitution to convey the same sense (in other words, a synonym!). In one context it might be "(the) forbidden fruit", in another simply "fruit" (since "apple" is such a common fruit that it is often used generically anyway). For "apple of the eye" --- in the literal sense you can substitute "pupil", in the figurative, something like "dear(est) one".

So while you might have a sentence is which you cannot properly convey your point without using the specific word "apple", that does NOT mean that the word apple has NO synonym in ANY context.

It may help to recognize that a word that is used as a substitute/synonym is often less SPECIFIC than the original word (e.g., 'fruit' for 'apple', 'dog' for 'terrier'). But the whole point of a synonym is that it can convey the basic sense needed in THAT specific context. (It may not be important to your point, for example, that the dog in mind is a terrier, or that the piece of fruit in your lunch is an apple.)
________________________

Just to clarify, here is a dictionary definition of "synonym":
1. A word having the same OR NEARLY THE SAME meaning as another word or other words in a language.
2. A word or an expression that serves as a figurative or symbolic SUBSTITUTE for another.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/synonym

Note that words don't have to have identical meanings to do these things, and that how close the meanings of a pair of words is will vary from one context to another.

Answer 2

Apple Of My Eye Synonym

Answer 3

Apple.


Edit: Man, now I'm going to have to give a much longer answer so this guy below doesn't steal my points. His argument is incredibly long for one that is effectively baseless.

"Fruit" is not a synonym for apple. "Apple" is a HYPONYM for fruit. A hyponym is a word whose meaning is included within that of another, such as horse and animal.

PHRASES that contain the word "apple" are irrelevent and should be ignored. Phrases such as "apple of my eye" have separate entries in the dictionary and are unique in meaning. Actual synonyms for "apple of my eye" include "angel", "beloved", and "darling". However, you cannot then claim that those words are also synonyms for "apple", in its simple sense.

Further, it would be foolish to change the phrase from "apple of my eye" to "pupil of my eye".
It is redundant.


Bruhaha: Your summer school grade: D
Proper punctuation prevented the "F".

Answer 4

There are no synonyms for indefinite pronouns like it, some, any, and of course no synomyms for things that are unique-- like a specific species of birdlike peacock, dunlin, and many others; and there must be many nouns that have just one synonym, like pump, iron (the metal), or any element for that matter.

Answer 5

Various nouns, especially those to describe specific things, do not have synonyms. For example, the example given above, "apple."