Comment on the differences between synonyms by analyzing the following synonymous groups.
(1) want, wish, desire
(2) esult,consequence
(3) empty, vacant
Relative synonyms always differ in one way or another. The difference between synonyms boil down to three areas: denotation, connotation, and application
Difference in denotation. For group(1), these synonyms differ in degree of intensity.
Want is the most general and has the widest range of meaning while wish and desire are much narrower in sense. As far as intensity is concerned, both are stronger than want and desire the strongest of all.
Difference in connotation. Many synonyms have clear affective values. For group (2). result is neutral, neither appreciative nor derogatory. Consequence however, always has a negative implication.
Difference in application. Many words are synonymous in meaning but different in usage in simple terms. For group (3), empty and vacant are synonyms. but their collocations arenot the same. We may say empty box, empty room, but vacant seat, vacant apartment. Empty implies that there is no one ornothing inside while vacant suggests that something or some place is not occupied.
