✅  Firm is often used to describe substances that have become less soft (Add just enough water to make a firm dough; Pectin allows jellies to set and become firm).

✅  Solid describes substances that can hold their shape without any external force, as well as substances that resist force. It’s a lot easier to slice a firm jelly than it is to slice a solid block of ice.

✅  Solid can also mean that something is not hollow (The table is solid wood) or doesn’t have any particular flaws or weaknesses (Her performance is always solid; His argument was solid).

✅  Firm can be used to describe people, especially their tone and decision-making (Her voice was firm; They remained firm in their decision). In this context, firm carries the material meaning of solid: it suggests that the person can’t be moved, and they can resist the force of you trying to convince them to change their mind.

Make sure your understanding is solid by looking at these synonyms for firm!

✅  An act and a deed are both the result of an action (which can also be used as a synonym). If you’ve done something nice for someone, you could say you’ve done a good deed or a random act of kindness.

✅  An act can be positive or negative, big or small. A deed, however, is usually noteworthy, either because it was particularly good, brave, or even bad, and it often has an air of formality (She was known for her great deeds of bravery; dastardly deeds).

✅  Act can be used in a wider variety of circumstances, whether formal (We hereby recognize these acts of heroism) or informal (It was a thoughtless act—I’m sorry).

✅  It’s better to use deed instead of act when you’re trying to imply that what someone did was significant. Be careful, though, because sometimes it can sound overly dramatic.

Do yourself a good deed and discover some more of its synonyms!

✅  But and except can both suggest something is being excluded (We ate all but one; I answered all the questions except for the last two).

✅  Except often emphasizes the exclusion and draws our attention to the exception even more than but does (We were all excited except Thomas).

✅  When used as a synonym for except, but can sometimes sound archaic or formal. This is especially true when used with the word for (The whole family was there, but for Aunt Ida; But for the rain, it was a perfect day to go on a picnic).

Make sure you’re not leaving anything out with these synonyms for except!