Shoppers don't always use the same words you use in your catalogue. Someone searches for "adidasi", your products are named "sneakers". Synonyms connect these terms, so Aqurate Search returns the right products either way.
📋 Before you start
Make sure you have a list of terms shoppers use that don't match your product names. Your Search Dashboard is a good source: check the searches with no results.
🔀 Multi-way vs. One-way
| Multi-way | One-way |
How it works | All terms are equal. A search for any of them returns results for all of them. | A search for the root term also returns results for the synonym terms. Not the other way around. |
Example | sneakers = adidas = running shoes | shoes → sneakers, sandals, boots |
Best for | Words that mean the same thing: spelling variants, local terms | A broad term that should include narrower ones, but not the reverse |
In the One-way example, a search for "shoes" shows sneakers, sandals and boots. A search for "sandals" shows only sandals.
⚙️ How to add a synonym
In the Aqurate app, go to Search → Synonyms.
Click New synonym.
Choose the Type: Multi-way or One-way.
For One-way, add the Root term. For Multi-way, skip this field.
Add the Synonym terms. Press Enter after each one. Use Generate with AI for suggestions.
Click Confirm.
Your synonym now appears in the list. Use the pencil icon to edit it, the copy icon to duplicate it, or the bin icon to delete it.
💡 Common use cases
Local, multiple word versions or informal words: "adidas" and "sneakers", "trousers" and "pants".
Brand or category shortcuts: a one-way synonym from a broad term to the brands or product types it covers.
👉 Good to know
Changes apply instantly. New, edited or deleted synonyms affect your search results right away.
Keep synonyms tight. Every term you add widens the results. Unrelated terms bring in irrelevant products and lower conversion.