Oh crap, my d, e, f, and g are synonyms of 2, not 2+2. Whoops.

Aedes = dum

They certainly are not synonymous.
The author of "Huckleberry Finn" is the author of "Tom Sawyer" and, "The author of "Huckleberry Finn" is the author of "Huckleberry Finn" , are equivalent propositions. But they are certainly not synonymous propositions. Therefore, "equivalent propositions" is not synonymous with, "synonymous propositions".

True but I read between the lines and avoid the quibble.

Oh crap, my d, e, f, and g are synonyms of 2, not 2+2. Whoops.

"Synonym" usually refers to syntactical equivalence, not propositional equivalence.

K, I already used the thesaurus. Argue with the thesaurus, not me.

The Thesauraus gives families of words which resemble each other in meaning. It doesn't give synonyms

Um, isn't that what synonyms are? Different words with identical or similar meanings?

The Thesauraus gives families of words which resemble each other in meaning. It doesn't give synonyms. You ought to look at the theory of thesaurus writing. No good writer who was looking for another term to express a similar idea would just pick up a word from the family at random and use it. There are important differences even within the family of terms. There is no need to argue with the Thesaurus because you don't know what goes on in the Thesaurus.

The largest and most trusted free online thesaurus. Quickly find accurate and up-to-date synonyms, antonyms, and related words at Thesaurus.com.

Yes. What they mean by "synonym" is "phrase similar in meaning" or, "phrase that means the same in some contexts, although not in other contexts". That is not what we are talking about. Or, at least, not what I was talking about. Strictly speaking, "synonymous" means "identical meaning" not, "sort of means the same thing".

Main Entry:
Pronunciation: \-məs\
Function: adjective
Date: 1610
1 : having the character of a synonym; also : alike in meaning or significance
2 : having the same connotations, implications, or reference <to runners, Boston is synonymous with marathon - Runners World>

Main Entry:
Pronunciation: \ˈsi-nə-ˌnim\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English sinonyme, from Latin synonymum, from Greek synōnymon, from neuter of synōnymos synonymous, from syn- + onyma name - more at name
Date: 15th century
1 : one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses
2 a : a word or phrase that by association is held to embody something (as a concept or quality) <a tyrant whose name has become a synonym for oppression> b : metonym
3 : one of two or more scientific names used to designate the same taxonomic group

So? There is a loose use of "synonym" (alike in meaning) and there is a strict use of "synonym" (identical in meaning). So what?

Ewe tail mi..........................

I am using the strict sense.

Good for you. No one else is.

The dictionary isn't either.

synonym - one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses

In the loose sense of strict or in the strict sense of loose? I hear the sound of 1.5 hand(s) clapping.

if I said that someone with an I.Q. of 50 was an idiot, I would be using the term "idiot" strictly.

No, that wouldn't be strict use of the term idiot, because it's no longer a clinical term. That would be a loose, or at best anachronistic use. The pejorative use has completely supplanted any other modern use of the word, and there is other clinical terminology used to describe someone with an IQ of 50.

Kind of like the word "macaroni". Three hundred years ago "macaroni" meant something like a stylish, affected Englishman.

So according to your convenient criteria, if I order some macaroni and cheese, I'm using the term macaroni "loosely", just like the term "cool" would be "loose" when applied to someone stylish. But if I call that stylish person a macaroni, then hey, I'm being strict.

Bloody brilliant, Ken.