写作高分同义替换

在本专栏中，我会选取英文写作当中常见的同义替换词进行讲解，所讲解的词汇表达为通用词汇或者话题词汇。同义词有很多，每组仅选取几个。

1 使减少(reduce/lower/decrease)

cut、cut down (on)、trim、slash

① cut是个非常常见的词，但是用来表示减少时，却非常地道。

Swicthing to renewable energy is a necessary step towards cutting carbon emissions.转而使用可再生能源是实现减排的一个必要步骤。

② cut down on既可以表示减少...的数量，也可以表示降低做某事的频率(不利于健康的事)。

The machine significantly cuts down the amount of work necessary to harvest crops.这个机器大幅降低了收割作物所需的工作量。

Cutting down on high-calorie food is considered beneficial for one's health.减少食用高卡路里的食物被认为对健康有益。

③ Working remotely helps employees to trim their commuting cost.远程工作有助于员工降低其通勤成本。

④ slash表示大幅降低，相当于greatly reduce。

Governments need to slash the licensing requirements and other barriers that make it hard for newcomers to enter occupations.政府需要大幅减少执照要求以及其他使新人很难进入职业的障碍。

2 减少(decrease)

drop/fall/decline/go down、plummet/plunge、dwindle/taper off

① drop/fall/decline/go down这几个词表示减少时，意思用法基本相同。

When supply rises, prices tend to fall/drop/decline/go down.供给增加，价格通常会下降。

② plummet/plunge表示骤降；突降。比decrease在意思上多了个程度suddenly/quickly。

The last few years have seen people's enthusiam for overseas travel plummet due to the pandemic.过去几年，由于疫情，人们对于出国旅游的热情大幅消减。

③ dwindle和taper off表示逐渐减少。多了个程度gradually。

As more and more people go to college, the returns on investment in higher education are tapering off.随着越来越多的人上大学，对于高等教育的投资回报正在逐渐减少。

With the introduction of this policy, after-school tutoring has dwindled in significance.随着该政策的推出，课外培训的重要性已经逐渐降低。

3 削弱(make sth weaker)

undermine、dilute、impair

① undermine的英文释义为gradually make sth/sb less confident, effective or successful逐渐削弱。undermine的宾语常见的有confidence、position(地位)、credibility(可信度)。【同义词】erode

Her confidence has been undermined/eroded by repeated failures.她的自信心因为屡次的失败慢慢消磨掉了。

② dilute的本义为稀释，衍生义主要表示降低...的效果。常用搭配dilute the quality of。

Large classes dilute the quality of education that children receive.大班课会降低孩子们所受教育的质量。

③ impair通常搭配某种能力(ability)或身体官能。带有damage的意思。

Drinking impairs a person's ability to think clearly.饮酒会影响一个人清晰思考的能力。

This disease impairs hearing and vision in elderly people.这个疾病会影响老年人的听力和视力。

如果将上面几个例句中的动词换成affect，就显得有些普通，不够出彩，同时表述也不够精准。