Synonyms are one of the language’s most important expressive means. The principal function of synonyms is to represent the same phenomenon in different aspects, shades and variations. The word “synonym” came from the ancient Greek syn (σύν) (with) and onoma (ὄνομα) (name). A large number of English synonyms have a variety of expressive methods making it possible to express the same meaning by different words. English is very rich in synonyms and therefore an elementary dictionary of synonyms contains over 8000 synonyms. The existence of numerous groups of native and foreign synonyms is one of the characteristic features of English. There are a lot of borrowed synonyms. E.g. hearty (native) – cordial (borrowing); town (native) – city (borrowing); to begin (native) – to commence (borrowing). As a result of this process, many new meanings of one and the same word appear in the English vocabulary. It causes many problems such as the correct choice of words from synonyms. English synonyms have some differences in many aspects and can be distinguished in meaning, coloring and usage. E.g.: good-looking, pretty, attractive – adjectives describe a pleasant appearance; to win a victory – to gain a victory; homeland, motherland etc. Synonyms are usually defi ned as words different in form but denoting different shades of a common meaning. Every group of synonyms represents a certain unity for they denote one concept characterizing it from different sides. 

As famous scholar L.M. Lipka says, “synonyms may express various peculiarities of that concept, they may express subtle shades of emotional coloring or modal meaning” [Lipka, 1994:41]. Synonymy – the coincidence in the essential meanings of linguistic elements which (at the same time) usually preserve their differences in connotations and stylistic characteristics. Synonymy is one of modern linguistics’ most controversial problems. Many scholars have different opinions regarding the defi nition of synonyms. For example, well-known scientist J.A.Devlin offers the defi nition which describes the notion “synonymy as identity of meaning and interchangeability”[Devlin, 2002:107]. According to Professor Charles Smith’s defi nition, “synonyms are words which agree in expressing one or more characteristic ideas in common”[Smith, 2003:75]. The famous scientist R. Ginzburg defi nes synonyms as “words belonging to one part of speech, possessing one or more identical meanings but different in morphemic composition” [Ginzburg, 1985:75]. Having studied various opinions of famous scholars the traditional linguistics solved this problem with the conceptual criterion and presented the following defi nition. Synonyms are words of the same category of parts of speech conveying the same concept and possessing one or more identical denotations but differing either in shades of meaning or in stylistic characteristics. Many synonyms are characterized by either the semantic relations of equivalence or by the different types of synonyms. A more modern and a more effective approach to the classifi cation of synonyms may be based on the defi nition describing synonyms as words differing in an evaluative connotation. It seems convenient to classify connotations by which synonyms differ rather than synonyms themselves. It opens up possibilities for tracing much subtler distinctive features within their semantic structures. The difference in an evaluative synonym beautiful – (adj.) may be illustrated by the following synonymic words:

 Gorgeous – very beautiful or pleasant (великолепный, красочный). Eg.: Sandy was there, looking gorgeous as usual.

 Stunning – very impressive or beautiful, for example, a stunning dress (в значении потрясающий). 

Eg.: The view from the top of the hill is stunning.

 Breathtaking – extremely impressive or beautiful (захватывающий). Eg.: The scenery along the coast was just breathtaking.

 Lovely – beautiful, very attractive, charming. (прелестный, прекрасный). Eg.: It was a lovely time. She had lovely hair.

 Exquisite – perfected, extremely beautiful and delicate (утонченный). Eg.: This exquisite hand-painted vase is from China. So you see that these synonyms are characterized by certain features of semantic dissimilarity which shows that they are not absolutely identical in meaning. In contemporary research on synonymy semantic criterion is frequently used. The leading semantic component in the semantic structure of a word is usually termed denotation or denotative component. The denotative component expresses the conceptual content of a word. It means that denotation is the central meaning of a word. The terms connotation or connotative component are used to describe more or less full picture of the meaning of a word, to give the additional semantic structures. The difference in connotation may be illustrated by the words: celebrated in the meaning (widely known, famous, having good fame). The adjective celebrated (with positive meaning) – celebrated scholar, celebrated singer, celebrated artist.

The adjective notorious (with negative meaning) which is defi ned as (widely known because of something bad, for example for being criminal, violent, immoral) – notorious robber, notorious murderer, notorious lady-killer.

Thus, Synonyms may be defi ned as words with the same denotation, but different in connotative components.