Review
Synonyms is a simply designed, easy to learn (and play) game that can double as a fun language arts supplement. Players move their game pieces around a board, trying to collect all of the letters of the word “Synonym” by naming a prescribed number of synonyms (determined by a roll of the die) for a given word (taken from one of three decks).
Synonyms gives a recommended age range of 10 to adult, but a bright younger child could easily play, with some modifications. The game offers a few different options for play, and is easily adapted to more simple use. We’ve included a child as young as six at our house, with only minor adjustments. Players can also pass, or challenge another player to make the game livelier, although we’ve also had fun making it a more cooperative effort (older siblings helping younger ones).
The 453 cards offer over 10,000 words, but keep your thesaurus on hand—we’ve needed ours a time or two, to confirm an answer that wasn’t listed. Synonyms offers a great lesson on the complexity of the English language, as well as a great vocabulary builder.
Guest Reviewer Jill Hardy is a homeschooling mom of five, in addition to working part-time as a freelance copywriter.
About the Reviewer
Linda Hymes is an award-winning cookbook author, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, former professional ballerina and mother of two. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she and her husband Derek Gaffney founded Lindergaff Publishing in 2002. Winners of numerous book publishing, toy and game industry awards, they originally designed the Synonyms game as a tool to help their own children improve their vocabulary and reading skills.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lindergaff is an award-winning publisher of games, books and educational programs for all ages that promote learning through play.
My young ones argue semantics all the time. I suspect this would be a favorite in our home.