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How not to use a Thesaurus


In this exercise, we can see examples of how someone perhaps used a Thesaurus to find an alternative word or expression, but didn't check the synonym in the dictionary. If they had, then they might have noticed that the new word:

-has a different meaning

-has the same meaning, but a different feel or connotation e.g. sterile/pristine (negative/positive) freaky/peculiar (colloquial/semi-formal)

-works in a grammatically different way e.g. damage/deteriorate (transitive/intransitive) guidance/recommendations (uncountable/countable)

For each question, using a Thesaurus and dictionary,, work out why the synonym (in CAPITAL LETTERS) is not a good replacement for the original word.


A good team should be made up of people with diverse skills.

A good team should be made up of people with DISPARATE skills.
Team members need to collaborate and focus their energies on the main tasks.

Team members need to CONSPIRE and focus their energies on the main tasks.
If a project stagnates, then someone in the team needs to inject new life and ideas into it.

If a project PROCRASTINATES, then someone in the team needs to inject new life and ideas into it.
A good team-player is a person who definitely would not take all the credit for success.

A good team-player is a person who FORSOOTH would not take all the credit for success.
If there is a lack of team effort, then the project will probably fail.

If there is a lack of team effort, then the project will probably ABORT.
It would be strange to find a team without a natural leader.

It would be UNCANNY to find a team without a natural leader.
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