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Why did Prodicus carefully distinguish words with similar meanings?

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Marble bust of Aristotle with a beard and draped robe, showing detailed facial features and wavy hair, set against a dark background. — Applied logic Aristotle, marble portrait bust, Roman copy (2nd century bce) of a Greek original (c. 325 bce); in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome.

Prodicus, a 5th-century BCE Sophist, maintained the philosophical position that no two words can possess exactly the same meaning. Based on this belief, he dedicated significant effort to the careful distinction and definition of apparent synonyms, particularly those related to ethical terms.1

This practice was part of a broader Sophistic focus on the relationship between words and things, as well as the importance of precision in language. By rigorously analyzing the nuances of vocabulary, Prodicus and other Sophists contributed to the development of logic and argumentation, emphasizing the necessity of care and rigour when using language to justify claims or conduct debates. His work in this area influenced contemporaries like Socrates, who similarly pursued the definition of concepts within the realms of ethics and values.21