A system and method for implementing enhanced searching within a document in a data processing system. A search manager receives an original search term, wherein the original search term includes at least two words. The search manager creates a set of alternate search terms by: retrieving from a predetermined thesaurus database at least one synonym for at least one word in the original search term; and inserting at least on wildcard between the at least two words within the original search term. The search manager performs at least one search utilizing the set of alternate search terms and the original search term. The search manager ranks the search results from the at least one search according to a predetermined priority order. The search manager outputs the ranked search results.