Some lexicographers claim that no synonyms have exactly the same meaning (in all contexts or social levels of language) because etymology, orthography, phonic qualities, See more

The word is borrowed from Latin synōnymum, in turn borrowed from Ancient Greek synōnymon (συνώνυμον), composed of sýn (σύν 'together, similar, alike') and -ōnym- ( … See more

Synonyms are often from the different strata making up a language. For example, in English, Norman French superstratum words and Old English substratum words continue to coexist. … See more

Synonyms often express a nuance of meaning or are used in different registers of speech or writing.
Various technical … See more

Synonyms can be any part of speech, as long as both words belong to the same part of speech. Examples:
• noun: drink and beverage
• verb: buy and purchase See more

• -onym
• Cognitive synonymy
• Elegant variation, the gratuitous use of a synonym in prose
• Semantic equivalence (linguistics) See more

The dictionary definition of synonym at Wiktionary See more