Review Synonym Batch 0

Review: English synonym sets, batch 0 (poke-holes pass)

Source of truth: this wiki page. Issue #924, ADR-0050. Date 2026-10-30.

Rule applied: a set stays only if every member is the same lemma spelled differently, with no sense, part of speech, register or technical use where the meanings differ. When in doubt, drop. Result: 218 sets in, 201 kept, 17 dropped. The format was checked (quoted, sorted, no word in two sets, no set clashes with the closed UK/US doubled-l list).

Dropped

Set	Counterexample
analog / analogue	US "analog" is the signal type, "analogue" the counterpart; usage splits by sense
burned / burnt	inflected forms; "burnt sienna", "burnt offering" are not "burned"
cipher / cypher	"cypher" is also a hip-hop circle and a query language; not one word in all uses
criticisation / criticization	rare, not attested in standard dictionaries
dialog / dialogue	"dialog box" (computing) vs conversation; US keeps the two apart
dreamed / dreamt	inflected forms
enquire / inquire	British usage: enquire = ask, inquire = formal investigation
enquiry / inquiry	as above ("public inquiry")
leaned / leant	inflected forms
program / programme	UK: "program" is computing only, "programme" a broadcast or plan
smelled / smelt	"smelt" is also to melt ore, and a fish
spelled / spelt	"spelt" is a grain
spilled / spilt	inflected forms
spoiled / spoilt	inflected forms; "spoilt" as adjective (a spoilt child)
speciality / specialty	UK splits them (a speciality of the house vs a medical specialty)
toward / towards	two different words (towards carries the adverbial -s); "toward" also an old adjective
whiskey / whisky	convention marks different spirits (Irish and US vs Scotch)

Kept after questioning

ketchup / catsup (same sauce, one word two spellings), gaol / jail, donut / doughnut, axe / ax, amoeba / ameba, adviser / advisor, plough / plow, savour / savor, judgement / judgment, theatre / theater, skeptic / sceptic, hiccup / hiccough, and every -ise / -ize lemma pair (applied to lemmas only; the grader derives the inflected forms). The plural-only pairs pajama(s) / pyjama(s) stay because the plural is the usual lemma.