diff --git a/command/apply.go b/command/apply.go
index eb2740e79c..36b66f677b 100644
--- a/command/apply.go
+++ b/command/apply.go
@@ -196,23 +196,24 @@ func (c *ApplyCommand) Help() string {
 
 func (c *ApplyCommand) Synopsis() string {
 	if c.Destroy {
-		return "Destroy Terraform-managed infrastructure"
+		return "Destroy previously-created infrastructure"
 	}
 
-	return "Builds or changes infrastructure"
+	return "Create or update infrastructure"
 }
 
 func (c *ApplyCommand) helpApply() string {
 	helpText := `
-Usage: terraform apply [options] [DIR-OR-PLAN]
+Usage: terraform apply [options] [PLAN]
 
-  Builds or changes infrastructure according to Terraform configuration
-  files in DIR.
+  Creates or updates infrastructure according to Terraform configuration
+  files in the current directory.
 
-  By default, apply scans the current directory for the configuration
-  and applies the changes appropriately. However, a path to another
-  configuration or an execution plan can be provided. Execution plans can be
-  used to only execute a pre-determined set of actions.
+  By default, Terraform will generate a new plan and present it for your
+  approval before taking any action. You can optionally provide a plan
+  file created by a previous call to "terraform plan", in which case
+  Terraform will take the actions described in that plan without any
+  confirmation prompt.
 
 Options:
 
diff --git a/command/console.go b/command/console.go
index 359d9dca06..c6f872b905 100644
--- a/command/console.go
+++ b/command/console.go
@@ -203,5 +203,5 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *ConsoleCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Interactive console for Terraform interpolations"
+	return "Try Terraform expressions at an interactive command prompt"
 }
diff --git a/command/fmt.go b/command/fmt.go
index 13e84a2187..ff59d2b9d5 100644
--- a/command/fmt.go
+++ b/command/fmt.go
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *FmtCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Rewrites config files to canonical format"
+	return "Reformat your configuration in the standard style"
 }
 
 func bytesDiff(b1, b2 []byte, path string) (data []byte, err error) {
diff --git a/command/get.go b/command/get.go
index 238020a942..49cb207c33 100644
--- a/command/get.go
+++ b/command/get.go
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ Usage: terraform get [options] PATH
   already downloaded, it will not be redownloaded or checked for updates
   unless the -update flag is specified.
 
+  Module installation also happens automatically by default as part of
+  the "terraform init" command, so you should rarely need to run this
+  command separately.
+
 Options:
 
   -update             Check already-downloaded modules for available updates
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *GetCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Download and install modules for the configuration"
+	return "Install or upgrade remote Terraform modules"
 }
 
 func getModules(m *Meta, path string, upgrade bool) tfdiags.Diagnostics {
diff --git a/command/graph.go b/command/graph.go
index cdfaaa2e78..fba33c6f8a 100644
--- a/command/graph.go
+++ b/command/graph.go
@@ -190,5 +190,5 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *GraphCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Create a visual graph of Terraform resources"
+	return "Generate a Graphviz graph of the steps in an operation"
 }
diff --git a/command/import.go b/command/import.go
index f5891ed6dc..cf22946c5c 100644
--- a/command/import.go
+++ b/command/import.go
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *ImportCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Import existing infrastructure into Terraform"
+	return "Associate existing infrastructure with a Terraform resource"
 }
 
 const importCommandInvalidAddressReference = `For information on valid syntax, see:
diff --git a/command/init.go b/command/init.go
index 6cd9a27bfc..e90449ca51 100644
--- a/command/init.go
+++ b/command/init.go
@@ -1052,7 +1052,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *InitCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Initialize a Terraform working directory"
+	return "Prepare your working directory for other commands"
 }
 
 const errInitConfigError = `
diff --git a/command/output.go b/command/output.go
index e389c458c0..3f5cc2bea0 100644
--- a/command/output.go
+++ b/command/output.go
@@ -223,5 +223,5 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *OutputCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Read an output from a state file"
+	return "Show output values from your root module"
 }
diff --git a/command/plan.go b/command/plan.go
index 8064cad57d..dc578f42e8 100644
--- a/command/plan.go
+++ b/command/plan.go
@@ -193,12 +193,12 @@ func (c *PlanCommand) Help() string {
 	helpText := `
 Usage: terraform plan [options] [DIR]
 
-  Generates an execution plan for Terraform.
+  Generates a speculative execution plan, showing what actions Terraform
+  would take to apply the current configuration. This command will not
+  actually perform the planned actions.
 
-  This execution plan can be reviewed prior to running apply to get a
-  sense for what Terraform will do. Optionally, the plan can be saved to
-  a Terraform plan file, and apply can take this plan file to execute
-  this plan exactly.
+  You can optionally save the plan to a file, which you can then pass to
+  the "apply" command to perform exactly the actions described in the plan.
 
 Options:
 
@@ -249,5 +249,5 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *PlanCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Generate and show an execution plan"
+	return "Show changes required by the current configuration"
 }
diff --git a/command/providers.go b/command/providers.go
index 918fd841e3..d2042d122b 100644
--- a/command/providers.go
+++ b/command/providers.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func (c *ProvidersCommand) Help() string {
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Prints a tree of the providers used in the configuration"
+	return "Show the providers required for this configuration"
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersCommand) Run(args []string) int {
diff --git a/command/providers_lock.go b/command/providers_lock.go
index 38bf2184ae..74f23cef09 100644
--- a/command/providers_lock.go
+++ b/command/providers_lock.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ type ProvidersLockCommand struct {
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersLockCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Creates or updates dependency locks for providers in the configuration"
+	return "Write out dependency locks for the configured providers"
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersLockCommand) Run(args []string) int {
diff --git a/command/providers_mirror.go b/command/providers_mirror.go
index 029b086304..a2367707a0 100644
--- a/command/providers_mirror.go
+++ b/command/providers_mirror.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type ProvidersMirrorCommand struct {
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersMirrorCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Mirrors the provider plugins needed for the current configuration"
+	return "Save local copies of all required provider plugins"
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersMirrorCommand) Run(args []string) int {
diff --git a/command/providers_schema.go b/command/providers_schema.go
index 60e4c4c39f..00634cf2f9 100644
--- a/command/providers_schema.go
+++ b/command/providers_schema.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func (c *ProvidersSchemaCommand) Help() string {
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersSchemaCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Prints the schemas of the providers used in the configuration"
+	return "Show schemas for the providers used in the configuration"
 }
 
 func (c *ProvidersSchemaCommand) Run(args []string) int {
diff --git a/command/refresh.go b/command/refresh.go
index 4ab3932f4b..36c40633fc 100644
--- a/command/refresh.go
+++ b/command/refresh.go
@@ -154,5 +154,5 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *RefreshCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Update local state file against real resources"
+	return "Update the state to match remote systems"
 }
diff --git a/command/show.go b/command/show.go
index 3bf034c9e1..56d0e34b9e 100644
--- a/command/show.go
+++ b/command/show.go
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *ShowCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Inspect Terraform state or plan"
+	return "Show the current state or a saved plan"
 }
 
 // getPlanFromPath returns a plan and statefile if the user-supplied path points
diff --git a/command/taint.go b/command/taint.go
index 04a5bf1f10..ad4f10f06d 100644
--- a/command/taint.go
+++ b/command/taint.go
@@ -201,21 +201,27 @@ func (c *TaintCommand) Help() string {
 	helpText := `
 Usage: terraform taint [options] <address>
 
-  Manually mark a resource as tainted, forcing a destroy and recreate
-  on the next plan/apply.
+  Terraform uses the term "tainted" to describe a resource instance
+  which may not be fully functional, either because its creation
+  partially failed or because you've manually marked it as such using
+  this command.
 
-  This will not modify your infrastructure. This command changes your
-  state to mark a resource as tainted so that during the next plan or
-  apply that resource will be destroyed and recreated. This command on
-  its own will not modify infrastructure. This command can be undone
-  using the "terraform untaint" command with the same address.
+  This will not modify your infrastructure directly, but subsequent
+  Terraform plans will include actions to destroy the remote object
+  and create a new object to replace it.
 
-  The address is in the usual resource address syntax, as shown in
-  the output from other commands, such as:
+  You can remove the "taint" state from a resource instance using
+  the "terraform untaint" command.
+
+  The address is in the usual resource address syntax, such as:
     aws_instance.foo
     aws_instance.bar[1]
     module.foo.module.bar.aws_instance.baz
 
+  Use your shell's quoting or escaping syntax to ensure that the
+  address will reach Terraform correctly, without any special
+  interpretation.
+
 Options:
 
   -allow-missing      If specified, the command will succeed (exit code 0)
@@ -240,7 +246,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *TaintCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Manually mark a resource for recreation"
+	return "Mark a resource instance as not fully functional"
 }
 
 func (c *TaintCommand) allowMissingExit(name addrs.AbsResourceInstance) int {
diff --git a/command/unlock.go b/command/unlock.go
index 94b2f7d8f2..6376fd0f6d 100644
--- a/command/unlock.go
+++ b/command/unlock.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Usage: terraform force-unlock LOCK_ID [DIR]
   Manually unlock the state for the defined configuration.
 
   This will not modify your infrastructure. This command removes the lock on the
-  state for the current configuration. The behavior of this lock is dependent
+  state for the current workspace. The behavior of this lock is dependent
   on the backend being used. Local state files cannot be unlocked by another
   process.
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *UnlockCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Manually unlock the terraform state"
+	return "Release a stuck lock on the current workspace"
 }
 
 const outputUnlockSuccess = `
diff --git a/command/untaint.go b/command/untaint.go
index 2f91d44829..96493bcb0c 100644
--- a/command/untaint.go
+++ b/command/untaint.go
@@ -175,14 +175,17 @@ func (c *UntaintCommand) Help() string {
 	helpText := `
 Usage: terraform untaint [options] name
 
-  Manually unmark a resource as tainted, restoring it as the primary
-  instance in the state.  This reverses either a manual 'terraform taint'
-  or the result of provisioners failing on a resource.
+  Terraform uses the term "tainted" to describe a resource instance
+  which may not be fully functional, either because its creation
+  partially failed or because you've manually marked it as such using
+  the "terraform taint" command.
 
-  This will not modify your infrastructure. This command changes your
-  state to unmark a resource as tainted.  This command can be undone by
-  reverting the state backup file that is created, or by running
-  'terraform taint' on the resource.
+  This command removes that state from a resource instance, causing
+  Terraform to see it as fully-functional and not in need of
+  replacement.
+
+  This will not modify your infrastructure directly. It only avoids
+  Terraform planning to replace a tainted instance in a future operation.
 
 Options:
 
@@ -212,7 +215,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (c *UntaintCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Manually unmark a resource as tainted"
+	return "Remove the 'tainted' state from a resource instance"
 }
 
 func (c *UntaintCommand) allowMissingExit(name addrs.AbsResourceInstance) int {
diff --git a/command/validate.go b/command/validate.go
index e9c8914de0..6519a5db9b 100644
--- a/command/validate.go
+++ b/command/validate.go
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ func (c *ValidateCommand) showResults(diags tfdiags.Diagnostics, jsonOutput bool
 }
 
 func (c *ValidateCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Validates the Terraform files"
+	return "Check whether the configuration is valid"
 }
 
 func (c *ValidateCommand) Help() string {
diff --git a/command/version.go b/command/version.go
index b20cc4c6a3..cbece20ac9 100644
--- a/command/version.go
+++ b/command/version.go
@@ -169,5 +169,5 @@ func (c *VersionCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 }
 
 func (c *VersionCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "Prints the Terraform version"
+	return "Show the current Terraform version"
 }