Synonyms for

Pronouns

Verb / ˈprəʊnaʊnz / Another word for pronouns — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Pronouns are words that are used in place of nouns to avoid repetition or to refer to people, animals, or things without using their names.

Synonyms & similar words

pronoun substitute replacement stand-in surrogate proxy alias alternate spokesman representative delegate ambassador envoy messenger emissary agent intermediary go-between mediator broker middleman

Synonyms by register

Formal

substitute nouns pro-nouns

Informal

stand-ins replacements

Common collocations

  • personal pronouns
  • possessive pronouns
  • reflexive pronouns
  • demonstrative pronouns
  • interrogative pronouns
  • relative pronouns
  • subject pronouns
  • object pronouns

Word family

noun pronoun

Usage note

Pronouns are words that replace nouns. Common mistakes involve agreement in number and gender with the noun they replace.

Example sentences

  1. She gave me her book, and I gave her mine, so we exchanged pronouns.
  2. He was talking about his dog, but he kept using pronouns instead of the dog's name.
  3. The teacher asked the students to identify all the pronouns in the sentence.
  4. I don't like to use pronouns in my writing because it can be confusing for the reader.
  5. The pronouns 'he' and 'she' are used to refer to people.

Quotes

  • 'Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason.' - Richard Chenevix Trench
  • 'As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.' - Ernest Hemingway
  • 'The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. 'tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.' - Mark Twain

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