Flashcard 20 - Reading Flashcard Set for the TABE Test

big, serious, significant, grave

While all have closely similar meanings, the nuance between describing an event or problem as “big” and describing it as “grave” is very different. “Big” tends to sound informal and, therefore, less “serious”; something more serious might be referred to as “significant,” and the most serious as “grave.” Consider pairing these words with “danger” to hear the increasing intensity: big danger, serious danger, significant danger, grave danger.