Ministry of the higher and secondary special education of the republic of uzbekistan state world languages university

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neat’ also ‘accurate’
 
as their synonyms, 
while ‘clever’ and ‘canny’ have different stylistic colouring.
Аfter a review of the types, we can conclude, that synonyms are sets of 
words which contain usually several members differing from each other in some 
shades of meaning, degree or intensity, stylistic reference and emotional 
colouring. Each such group has a word expressing the idea in a more general 
and neutral form Such words are termed synonymic dominants, as the most 
generalized term of its kind, usually stylistically neutral and sharing some of the 
distinctive features with all members of the synonymic group.
However we should remember that it is universally known that no two 
words are absolutely identical in their meaning connotations, ways of usage, 
stylistic reference and/or frequency of occurrence. For example, we can not be 
sure that even the words “intelligent” and “aққли” (clever) are absolutely 
identical in their meanings, as they differ in their usage. Thus, we can not speak 
of a total synonymy. 
Synonyms can appear in paradigmatic and syntagmatic sets. Dictionaries 
of synonyms include words on the basis of relatedness of their meanings. Here 
we deal with identity and differentiation, continuity and variability as the main 
parameters. Usually in analyzing synonymy we pay attention to semantic 
distinctions between lexical units as these distinctions in meaning and usage are 
very important in choosing the right word in a particular context or speech 
situation.
In dictionaries we find a paradigmatic description of synonyms where the 
main accent is laid on the points of difference between them. Special 
supplementary notes in lexicography, such as ‘obsolete’, ‘derogatory’, ‘poetic’, 
‘informal’, ‘slang’, etc.) help us to restrict the wrong usage of synonyms and to 
escape stylistic mistakes in choosing the proper word for the current situation
Cognitive Linguistics studies synonymy from the different angle, from the 
viewpoint of the conceptual representation of synonymic relations. To better 
distinguish among synonyms a scale of synonymity can be established. The 

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scale consists of 
absolute synonymy, cognitive synonymy and near-synonymy.
Absolute synonymy is set as the complete identity of all meanings of two or 
more lexemes in all contexts. However, it is unnatural for a language to have 
absolute synonyms, or lexemes with exactly the same meaning. It is generally 
accepted that absolute synonymy is impossible or non-existent. It is regarded 
only as a referential point on the alleged scale of synonymity or the initial 
criterion for the defining of synonymy.
As there are no two lexemes with absolutely the same meaning and no 
real synonyms, cognitive synonymy is what most semanticists would regard as 
synonymy. Many theories of semantics would restrict the notion of synonymy to 
what is called descriptive or cognitive synonymy, which is the identity of 
descriptive meaning.
Near-synonyms are lexemes whose meaning is relatively close or more or 
less similar (mist/fog, stream/brook, dive/plunge). However, the given definition 
of near-synonymy is vague, because there isn't a precise correlation between 
synonymy and semantic similarity. Near-synonymy is associated with 
overlapping of meaning and senses. The senses of near-synonyms overlap to a 
great degree, but not completely. Moreover, unlike cognitive synonyms, near-
synonyms can contrast in certain contexts, like ‘clever’ and ‘cheeky’.
Near-synonymy is regularly found in dictionaries of synonyms or thesauri 
where most of the terms listed under a single dictionary entry are not considered 
to be cognitive synonyms (e.g. govern - direct, control, determine, require). 
There also are other views. Some linguists claims that there are absolute 
synonymy, complete synonymy, descriptive synonymy and near-synonymy.
Cognitive synonymy is the identity of cognitive (descriptive) meaning and 
it is also known as descriptive synonymy, propositional synonymy or referential 
synonymy. Cognitive synonymy is sometimes described as incomplete 
synonymy, or nonabsolute or partial synonymy. The examples of cognitive 
synonyms are:
liberty/freedom //statesman/politician//hide/conceal//thrifty/economical/stingy.

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Cognitive synonyms imply sentences with equivalent truth-conditions and 
propositions which are mutually entailing. This is a semantic or logical 
definition of synonymy. Therefore, cognitive synonymy is regarded as a sense 
relation. Moreover, this type of synonymy is concerned with sameness or 
identity, not similarity of meaning. This is a pragmatic or context-dependent 
understanding of synonymy. Cognitive study of synonymy is a matter of future 
research.
Thus synonyms play an important role in the language development and 
make our speech more precise, comprehensive and often colourful and 
imaginative. Their study and introduction into the language learning materials 
enrich the vocabulary and promote a more effective language acquisition.

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