Azure Search synonyms not reflecting in results

Question

The synonyms don't seem to function in Azure Search

I updated my synonyms map with the following payload {
"name" : "synonymmap1",
"format" : "solr",
"synonyms" :

"Bob, Bobby,Bobby\n
Bill, William, Billy\n
Harold, Harry\n
Elizabeth, Beth\n
Michael,Mike\n
Robert, Rob\n"

}

Then when I examined the synonymMap, I see this

{

"@odata.context": 
"https://athenasearchdev.search.windows.net/$metadata#synonymmaps",
"value": [
    {
        "@odata.etag": "\"0x8D4E7F3C1A9404D\"",
        "name": "synonymmap1",
        "format": "solr",
        "synonyms": "Bob, Bobby,Bobby\n\r\n    Bill, William, Billy\n\r\n    Harold, Harry\n\r\n    Elizabeth, Beth,Liza, Elize\n\r\n    Michael,Mike\n\r\n    Robert, Rob\n\r\n"
    }
]

}

However, the synonyms don't seem to function. e.g results for a search on Mike and Michael are not identical?

I understand this is a preview feature, but wanted help on the following

a) once defined as synonyms, should we not expect exact same results and search scores across all synonym variations

b) Can these synonyms apply at a column level (e. first name alone and not address)- or is it always across the document

c) if we have a large set of synonyms (over 1000)- does it lead to performance impact?

Answer 1

You most certainly should. If the words "Bill" and "Williams" were considered synonyms. A search on either should get the same results.
It always occurs at the column level. To select the synonym maps to utilise, use the'synonymMaps' field/column parameter. For further details, see "Setting the synonym map in the index definition" at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-search-synonyms-public-preview/.