The proportion of English words that have an exact synonym is small.

He […] thinks it unlawful to commute, and that he is bound to pay his vow in kind.

Man seeks for gold in mines that he may weave / A lasting chain for his own slavery.

It was poetically fitting. For almost a year, Mr. Trump has been the 800-pound gorilla whose unpredictable rampages have obsessed the news media. Now he was completing the circle by commenting on the 400-pound gorilla who briefly stole the spotlight from him for one holiday weekend.